However, Shi Yue was acutely aware that once her power waned, she would revert to being little more than a formidable mortal. Though she projected a tough exterior, her inner self was riddled with cowardice. Succumbing to this realization, she swiftly divulged every detail about Yang Kai.

After all, the past was an irretrievable entity, free from any constraints on disclosure.

Yang Kai, as it turned out, was the illegitimate son of the patriarch from the main branch of the Song Family within the Mystic Peak realm.

His uncle, a member of the third branch of the Shen Family, held dominion over the southern empire within the sacred sky jade realm.

Only a scant few were privy to Yang Kai's true lineage. To safeguard him from assassination attempts, he had been living in seclusion apart from the Mystic Peak realm.

During his time here, he had taken a romantic interest in the two daughters of his own uncle, Shen Zhedong, who held the mantle of ruler over the southern continent.

However, Shen Zhedong's foremost concern was the prosperity of his empire. He had long forged a pact with the northern continent, entailing peace through a marital alliance involving his daughters.

Perhaps, he might have overlooked Yang Kai's actions if the latter hadn't concealed his relationships with Shen Zhedong's two daughters.

Yet, circumstances had spiraled into disarray. Shen Zhedong's solution for Yang Kai was to engineer the dissolution of the agreement with the northern continent without instigating actual warfare.

Until such a time, Yang Kai had been instructed to maintain his distance from Shen Zhedong's daughters.

"This bald peacock has his sights set on his own uncle's daughters?" Xia Tian murmured, a disapproving undertone lacing his words. He believed individuals like Yang Kai needed proper education.

Shi Yue's nod reflected her agreement; the notion didn't sit well with her either. "He's definitely morally corrupt," she concurred.

Xia Tian's head shook, his expression contemplative. "That's not the main issue here."

Perplexed, Shi Yue questioned, "Then what is the main issue?"

Unbeknownst to her, Xia Tian's own record far surpassed Yang Kai's moral flaws; he had long since eaten his entire family.

The crux of the matter was, Xia Tian could commit such acts solely because he was Xia Tian. 

How audacious of these individuals, mere sons of destinies, to even harbor such dreams?

_____

Without lingering further, Xia Tian returned to the Blue Star Realm, with Shi Yue closely trailing behind. Her options were limited; he was essentially dragging her along with him. At some point, she had already resigned herself to the new destiny Xia Tian had thrust upon her.

However, as they made their way toward a building adorned with a large plus sign, her curiosity was piqued. 'Is this some sort of medical center?' she wondered, her eyes sweeping the surroundings with inquisitiveness. Meanwhile, Xia Tian held her small hand, leading her toward a destination unbeknownst to her.

A knock on a door echoed through the air, revealing the figure of an unsuspecting woman inside. Her face was partly concealed by bandages, and her legs were encased in casts, with one of them clearly broken.

Lin Ruoxi sat quietly, sipping on her soup. The sound of the door opening prompted her to turn her head, casting her gaze upon the unexpected visitors.

Thankfully, her fall hadn't resulted in severe injuries; the broken leg was the primary concern.

"You!?" Lin Ruoxi's voice quivered, a mix of shock and disbelief etched across her face.

However, the moment her gaze locked onto Xia Tian, his mischievous grin seemed to set her entire world into a slow, dizzying spin.

Every step of their journey, Shi Yue had skillfully woven a spell of invisibility, allowing them to stealthily slip through each checkpoint.

Shi Yue's eyes flicked back and forth between Lin Ruoxi and Xia Tian, a perplexed expression knitting her brow as she wondered about his unexpected presence.

"Who allowed you to get in!?" The words burst out of Lin Ruoxi's lips, a mixture of anger and frustration coloring her tone.

"Why haven't the police already taken you in!" Her voice trembled with a blend of astonishment and indignation.

"Get away from here! I don't want to see your face at all!" Lin Ruoxi's composure cracked, her agitation propelling random objects off surfaces and into the air.

Yet, despite the chaos, none of the hurtling objects managed to make contact with either Shi Yue or Xia Tian. A protective barrier shimmered around them, deflecting every missile.

'What could he have possibly done to enrage her like this?' Shi Yue turned to Xia Tian with a mixture of curiosity and concern, only to find him mysteriously vanished, as if he had dissolved into thin air.

It was as if he had never been there at all.

Adding to the intrigue, even Shi Yue was left bewildered by his disappearance. Her eyes blinked, fixated on the empty space that he once occupied, now devoid of any trace.

Abruptly, a heart-wrenching scream pierced the air, grabbing her attention like a vice grip.

"ahhhhhhhhhhh—"

The sound was abruptly silenced by a sickening *SQUISH!*

"Now, your problem is solved. You can't see me anymore," Xia Tian's grin oozed satisfaction as he yanked out both of Lin Ruoxi's eyes, the blood still sluggishly trailing down.

Against all odds, Lin Ruoxi clung to life, her shrieks echoing, her face drained of all color.

"MY EYES!!!!"

"I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING!"

A deafening *Boom!* shook the room as she tumbled from the bed in a frenzy, her face etched with pain, a guttural grunt escaping her lips.

The sight of Lin Ruoxi desperately dragging her shattered feet across the floor stirred even Shi Yue's heart, a twinge of pity surfacing, all while Xia Tian was casually juggling her eyes. 

Luo Xue, "..."

Just as the little fairy had started to believe that Xia Tian had turned a new leaf and stopped his cruel acts towards women, this horrifying scene unfolded, rendering her utterly speechless.

Words failed her; the experiences of the past few days had bombarded her senses, leading her to a chilling realization. The one behind the devastation of her realm might just be Xia Tian himself!

Caught in a whirlwind of uncertainty, she felt lost, not knowing which path to tread.

Thus, silence seemed the only refuge for now.

"Do you wish to regain your eyes?" Xia Tian's voice shattered the stillness, prompting Lin Ruoxi to muster her voice.

"Y-Yes!"

Attempting to rise, she faltered and crashed down again due to her broken leg, a sharp cry of pain escaping her lips. With sheer determination, she inched her way towards the source of his voice.

Her trembling hands brushed against his legs, desperately searching for something that resembled her eyes.

The terror coursing through her mind was so overwhelming that it momentarily eclipsed even the supernatural inconsistencies around her.

Xia Tian's laughter echoed, a cruel response to her desperate struggle.

"Tsk, you thought you could buy me with money? Do you believe that everything you desire is purchasable?" Xia Tian's smirk held a vicious edge.

This woman had made the grave mistake of attempting to bribe him.

Such audacity was unforgivable!

A cold shiver raced down Lin Ruoxi's spine, and she swallowed hard, stammering, "I-I didn't mean to! I was wrong! Please, return my eyes!" Her desperate plea was accompanied by her gripping his feet, her eyeless face creating a chilling visage.

"Haha!" Abruptly, he seized her hair, his tone shifting as he spoke, "What I meant was that the price you proposed was far too less, woman!"

"You need to offer a higher bid if you want to buy me!" he declared.

Lin Ruoxi froze, momentarily unable to fathom his words. "A higher price!? How much more?! Take everything! I possess assets worth 100 billion yuan! It's all yours!" Her words came out in a desperate torrent.

Xia Tian shook his head, a sinister grin playing on his lips. "That's nowhere near enough."

"What!?" Lin Ruoxi's face contorted, as if she had swallowed something unpleasant. "T-Then what else do you require?"

Xia Tian's reply was cold and calculated. "The only currency that holds value in purchasing me is — me!"

Shi Yue's, "..."

Lin Ruoxi, "...."

Luo Xue, "....."

Lin Ruoxi and Shi Yue found themselves speechless, a mixture of shock and confusion painting their faces.

"Isn't that impossible...?" Shi Yue's voice was a mere whisper, her thoughts racing.

How could she become another him in order to "buy" him?

"Yes," Xia Tian confirmed with a stark finality, leaving no room for doubt.

Shi Yue's expression twitched, mirroring Lin Ruoxi's now downtrodden face.

This old fox was certainly a peculiar one.

Couldn't he have simply said, 'You can't buy me?'

But then again, if he had chosen the straightforward path, would he still be a master of the art of bullshit?

Lin Ruoxi's hopes crumbled into dust, leaving her seemingly in a state of shock.

Yet, Xia Tian extended a glimmer of hope, dangling it before her like a last-ditch lifeline. "I can return your eyes — but under one condition."

"What condition?" Lin Ruoxi's spirits rallied, a renewed spark of anticipation igniting within her.

Shi Yue's intuition sent out warning signals, a sense of unease settling over her.

She considered cautioning Lin Ruoxi against making any deals with Xia Tian.

However, when she glimpsed his grin, a bitter smile touched her lips, and she took a step back.

The seemingly cowardly woman chose not to subject herself to suffering for the sake of others.