How many lifetimes could be mended together? The matters of a past life unresolved continues on to the next life.

For Su Lianghe, even time seemed to no longer matter. After all, to meet a man you once loved and a man who became your ex-lover's new flame, and then a man who sacrificed his world for you, all of it seemed to weigh heavy.

He was tired. But because of a problem unresolved, the matters of a past lifetime tied him to this place.

Even after tens of thousands of years, his soul was branded by a man who turned love into hatred. After tens of thousands of years, he finally met the new form of the man he once loved. After tens of thousands of years, he met the new form of his ex-lover's significant other.

To say he wasn't tired, it would be a lie. Even after countless betrayals, even after countless lies, he couldn't hate the man who left him behind. He couldn't forget the man who saved another man before his eyes. He couldn't forget his anger when he remembered the tortures he faced before he was saved by a man he rejected.

In the end, this lifetime was different yet the same.

"What are you thinking about?" Ran Mengyu hovered over the man who lied down in bed. His yellow eyes looked down, a hint of darkness spotted from within his eyes. His red lips curved, his strong and built figure suddenly reached out to clasp Su Lianghe's wrist. "I hope you aren't thinking about him. Even in the last life, he left you and married Zhu Longwang. This life isn't different. Only that now, I have you tied to me."

Su Lianghe turned with his wrist being clasped. His gray eyes were empty. As the blanket fell off his body, it revealed the countless red marks buried onto his skin and nape, running down to his lower body. Traveling further down, his lower body was in a mess.

"This was never supposed to happen." Su Lianghe sighed as he whispered. In the end, everyone was tangled in pain. The past life should be over, yet it seemed like everyone couldn't resolve their past.

"He doesn't even remember you after he broke off your engagement. Back then, he loved you more than the world, but as soon as he met someone else, he broke away from you. Your whole sect preyed on you. I was willing to give you everything, I was willing to destroy this world for you, but you couldn't forget a man who betrayed you. They've all reincarnated, thus, they will never remember the past life. But we do." Ran Mengyu smiled as he leaned down, grabbing a piece of Su Lianghe's long hair and kissing it gently. Even so, his eyes remained vicious.

Su Lianghe looked down. After so many centuries, he was used to this. The man had found him, saving him from that trapped mountain, yet also chaining him. Now, he was used to this bloody game, used to his role as both a puppet and toy.

"I'm tired." Su Lianghe slowly whispered. His gray eyes remained empty and lifeless, no emotions were spotted.

Ran Mengyu smiled softly at this. His face looked gentle, a peerless face both handsome and attracting. Yet his eyes were dark and gloomy. Upon looking closer, there was a wisp of dark energy radiating from his body.

"Is that so? Alright, sleep for a bit more." As Ran Mengyu stood up, Su Lianghe's body shifted. "I'll clean you up first." Without caring of the man's reaction, he carried the slender man into his arms.

Su Lianghe stayed frozen, not moving. As Ran Mengyu carried him, his heart only felt cold and frozen.

What went wrong? Everything. He was a puppet now, tied to this spell. He couldn't do anything. What a laughable fate.

He was once admired. He was once praised by everyone. Yet fate was cruel and heaven wasn't kind. As he wasn't a legitimate son of the Su Family, his core was sought after by another man. At that time, his lover had abandoned him. Left without the support of that man, he was schemed against. His core was taken away, and he was sealed to a mountain.

And Ran Mengyu found him. The man he once rejected had become the Lord of all Demonic Cultivators. That man was now searching for something else. Something that only the immortals that resided in the Nine Heavens could give. That man was willing to end this world simply for his desires.

Su Lianghe remained frozen under the man's gentle caresses. Even when the man touched and groped him, he merely remained blank.

It was better like this. It was better to remain like a perfect puppet, a perfectly molded toy. Yet he continued to step out of line, helping people who had hurt him. He continued helping a man who left him, a man who fed him to the wolves.

By the time Su Lianghe snapped out from his thoughts, Ran Mengyu was already gone. Left behind, there was a bowl of warm porridge on the table.

Su Lianghe picked up the note and read it.

'Make sure to rest. I won't come tonight so you don't have to be wary that I'll intrude. Zhao Weiming will be at your beck and call if you need him. Until tomorrow then, Lianghe.'

Su Lianghe read the note, clenching it as he finished. His emotions were in a turmoil, yet, he couldn't do anything. After all, his life had always been in someone else's hands, it was never his.

Su Lianghe tilted his head back, resisting the tears in his eyes. He was so tired. But his life couldn't be ended, he couldn't go against Ran Mengyu's orders.

Hence, in the end, he could only sit still as he carefully ate the porridge.

Heaven really had it's own game.

...

...

...

Fate was funny. Heaven was ridiculous. Destiny was cruel. As if they owned everything, they played with the life of a mortal's, a being that cannot go against the path it had been chosen for.

But Su Baicheng was different. Having experienced both bitter and sweet, he sought after revenge, to break away from the chains locked upon him.

He could recall the man he once was back then. Frivolous and young, naive and yet foolish, it was only after losing everything that he discovered that even justice wasn't served simply by staying silent. Thus he revolted. After experiencing the taste of betrayal over and over again, having lost both family and love, there was no reason to hesitate.

In this world, only Su Baicheng, only he needed to trust himself. He forged a path for himself. He forced himself to forget all human emotions, taking upon the role of a devil. He let blood flow for three rivers, severed the lives of thousands. Today, he finally got everything he wanted at the risk of himself.

Was it worth it? Back then, it was. However, as years passed, Su Baicheng's heart still remained unsettled. He had gotten revenge so why wasn't he happy?

Perhaps it was because he lost himself. From the young man who was once wild and frivolous, he turned into a cruel and evil man. He was once unknowing of this world. Now, he became a cold-blooded devil.

It was only normal. His parents were betrayed by their own sect, by people they called family and friends. They were killed before his eyes while he had to escape. From then on, the young man he once was slowly lost himself.

He spent years hiding and gaining strength. It worked. But he fell for someone. After having been ambushed, a young man saved him. He couldn't help but fall in love with that man. They even got married.

What a fool. Even that was merely an act of lie, a betrayal that scarred him even more.

When his lover killed him, stabbing a dagger into his chest, Su Baicheng made a vow. He would enact revenge using the demonic ways.

He lived. He didn't how or why, but having been resurrected, Su Baicheng became a real devil. He created a farce of people loyal to him, all with similar goals to him. At that time, he met another boy who saved him. Only this time, as that man grew, his heart was truly loyal. Wei XueLu became his most trusted and loyal subordinate, following his every order and even going beyond.

Everything led to this day. Now, he was the Sect Leader of Fushui Sect. The sect was filled with his subordinates and he had pushed aside all the other major sects.

Yet, his own wrongs chased after him. Having used some of the most ruthless ways to cultivate faster, his own body couldn't handle the demonic energy that ran wild within him. Thus, he sought the help of people he had harmed.

Su Baicheng didn't regret what he had done. It was the type of person he was now. Things were peaceful for now, but who knew about the future?

He hated things like this. He stopped himself from wanting and yearning. Even now, all that existed in his heart was accumulated hatred towards the man he once called his husband. Once broken, love could not be restored. Su Baicheng was not a forgiving man. If not for a vow, he could have killed Zhu Luishui. But a vow stopped him from doing so, and now, he couldn't move against any of them.

Perhaps it was time for him to seek closure too. The moment he decided to become a demonic cultivator, he tossed away his parent's teachings, seeking revenge through his resentment. He had done just that. He had killed everyone and reclaimed this seat, this sect, but deep down, he wasn't happy.

Of course he wasn't. Having found out that someone had been using him, there was no way he could be alright. However, even with Wei XueLu, they couldn't find the mastermind behind everything. It was true that Su Baicheng had used Fei Qianchi, it was true that he had killed Zhu Longwang. However, Su Baicheng had nothing to do with the death of Fei Qianchi, nor did he know about who was controlling Fei Qianchi. Although they knew that one culprit was Ran Mengyu, the problem wasn't as simple as that.

Su Baicheng looked up, standing as he grabbed his sword. As he stood up, a wave of pain ran through his body. He forced back a grunt, grasping at his chest as he fell back onto his seat.

His Qi ran wild in his body.

Su Baicheng dropped his sword to the side as he moved onto the ground, immediately sitting down as he crossed his legs. In the air, his fingers crossed quickly, muttering a spell underneath his breath. A line of blood dropped from the corner of his mouth. His eyes were closed.

The further one ascended, the easier it was for Heart Demons to strike. Not to mention, having cultivated a rare and unused way of demonic cultivation, the damage done to his body was considerably worse.

Like always, Su Baicheng faced his own Heart Demons while facing a Qi Deviation.

"I love you."

It was always this voice, this voice that belonged to a man he once loved.

"I cannot return your feelings."

And like always, it replayed his death over and over again, the scene of the man pushing him over the cliff. He achieved power in return for killing his husband. What a joke.

"Run. Do not turn back. Your father and I have risked our life for this sect. No matter what, we will live and die here."

His mother pushed him away. With wounds riddling her body, she pushed him away, giving him a small jade pendant, a pendant that was passed onto each Sect Leaders. Looking further ahead, his father battled against tens of people.

As he ran away, he turned back to look. There, he saw the sight of his mother and father both bathed in blood, dozens of swords stabbing through their body. From then on, his life was different.

Su Baicheng fought the demons within him. The voices in his head seemed to echo even louder.

Suddenly, an unknown voice broke past the barriers.

"I'm coming. Just like there, I'll make sure to destroy you here too. Wait for me. You'll never live a good life. Not so long as I'm here, I'll make sure to torture you forever."

Su Baicheng heaved as he opened his eyes in cold sweat. Before him, Wei XueLu was chanting a spell.

That voice... he had never heard it before. As Su Baicheng looked at Wei XueLu, the man suddenly showed a worry look upon his usual expressionless face.

What was happening? That voice felt oddly familiar.

No. It couldn't be possible that this voice was behind Ran Mengyu, was it?

...

...

...

"Immortal, I've done as you said." Ran Mengyu stood before a man in a black cloak.

"Is that so?"

Ran Mengyu postured himself better, his back straight even as he slightly bowed towards the man who sat down upon a throne. His hands rested upon the head of a black snake, as large as 30 meters, with a big body.

"Yes, Immortal. Su Baicheng has sent people to tail me, but I've easily covered my tracks." Ran Mengyu stared at the black snake, whose red eyes stared back at him, his tongue slithering out from his mouth.

"Shuyu, it seems like you have a new target." The man patted the snake's head. As he moved, the cloak shifted, revealing a hand covered in black writings. Upon closer look, there were visible black chains running over his skin.

With its name being called, Shuyu made a soft hissing noise. It's red eyes flickered between gold and red, flashing as it stood up higher, it's head nearly touching the ceiling.

"Come here." The man beckoned for Shuyu as Shuyu leaned down. His head was large once compared to the man's own figure. "Give me what I told you to get."

Ran Mengyu carefully walked over, handing a small bottle to the man.

The man accepted it, opening it as he tilted it towards Shuyu, who opened its mouth obediently. As it swallowed the content, Shuyu's body began to shrink, a bright light then engulfing it.

It didn't take long for the black snake to disappear and in its place, a man stood with a black cloak.

With one red eye and one gold eye, the man had pointed ears. His black hair was short, not even covering his ears. There was a gash running from the corner of his lips to his left ear. When he opened his mouth, a forked tongue appeared with sharp canines that could easily puncture skin with a light bite. His skin was pale and cold and the back of his nape was covered in a few black scales, hidden by his hair.

"Master." Shuyu's voice was hoarse. He kneeled before the cloaked man, speaking in a soft tone.

"Shuyu, it's been a while since you've been in your human body." The man reached for Shuyu, softly caressing his face.

Shuyu lightly hissed, letting out a sound of joy. "Master, what do you want me to do?"

The man looked up towards Ran Mengyu, who didn't meet his sight. "Follow Mengyu for a bit. I will send news of who you are to kill." He rubbed his fingers over Shuyu's plump lips, who opened his mouth. As he did so, the man gently rubbed on Shuyu's sharp canines and a drop of green liquid dripped down, falling onto the man's finger and soaking into his skin.

Shuyu closed his eyes, his face slightly flushing. As the man ran his fingers over Shuyu's sensitive teeth, Shuyu waited for the man to stop. After a few more drops of poison entered the man's skin, he backed away and Shuyu closed his mouth.

"Take care of Shuyu and hide his identity. We will start wrecking havoc for the cultivators." The man watched as Shuyu kneeled by his side, just like the obedient pet he was.

"I understand, Immortal." Ran Mengyu bowed down at the man's words.

"Master, will you come see me?" Shuyu asked as he looked up.

Though hidden behind a cloak, the man's faint lips could be seen lifting. "Of course. You won't be gone for long, I'll come visit often."

Shuyu hissed at the man's words, almost as if he was purring. He rubbed his head against the man's legs, the warmth penetrating his cold skin.

"Listen to Mengyu, the humans are cruel creatures." The man began to warn Shuyu.

"Of course, Master." Shuyu replied back in a soft tone.

The man smiled once more, as if content with Shuyu's answer. "Stand up." He guided Shuyu, helping him stand up.

Ran Mengyu quickly diverted his eyes, knowing what would come next.

Shuyu smiled, his red lips lifting. His red and gold eyes were warm.

The man reached forward, caressing Shuyu who leaned into his touch. He pulled Shuyu towards him, the man sitting on top of his lap. Then, he leaned forward, kissing the man.

Shuyu closed his eyes, feeling the warm lips upon his own cold lips. As the man ran his tongue over his canines, Shuyu tasted a hint of blood, making him suck his lips in turn to devour this faint trace of blood.

After a few minutes passed, the man pulled away. With a smile on his face, he kissed Shuyu's cheek. "I'll bring you back soon."

Shuyu was a bit out of breath as he replied, "Yes, Master. I'll finish my duty." His eyes flickered as his words ended.

"Go now." The man watched as Shuyu pulled away.

As he watched them leave, his own lips lifted into a sneer.

From under the cloak, his black eyes flickered white.

Su Baicheng, I'm coming.

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The End

New Book!

A lifetime is long. The future is unknown while the past remains muddled. Fate is cruel and destiny is not kind, thus, one's heart can never rest. The mountains and rivers, the ravines and the skies, the journey to seek everlasting serenity is hard.

Love and hatred are twisted together, bounded so tightly to one another, never able to escape from the other. Fate is running its course, taking pity on no one, just like how time continues to run, never caring of the people who wish to stay behind, only forcing them to continue their journey.

To repay a debt, how far must one go? Perhaps only when one reaches paradise, only when one has cultivated their heart to the extreme, only then can they dare to dream.

To seek nirvana, what should one sacrifice?

"Others seek nirvana, but I merely seek you. Others wish to reach nirvana, but I merely wish to reach you. I wish to seek you, for you are my nirvana."

Coming out soon on July 20.

AN: This marks the end of Steal the Male Lead! It has been such a fun two years writing this story. Looking back, there are some unresolved questions that haven't been answered but I'm hoping that it'll be answered in the sequel, Nirvana. Until July 20th, everyone. I feel a little sad ending this story but since these character will appear in Nirvana, don't be worried about it.