LONG, DARK HAIR flowed like strands of black silk in the gentle summer breeze, brushing lightly against the gleaming surface of silver armour. Caught in the sunlight, the polished plates shimmered as brightly as the full moon in a clear night sky.

Fu Jing was as majestic as ever.

Cheers and applause erupted around him, piercing the otherwise peaceful air. People gathered along the streets, shoulder to shoulder, clapping their hands and waving banners as Fu Jing passed them in this grand victory parade.

Fu Jing stood firm on his float, his hands clasped behind his back. He wore his armour with pride and was rarely seen without it—even outside of combat. This has earned him the sobriquet “Silver Moon Warrior”, Yinyue-jun.

Though he offered the people a faint smile, his expression remained cool and composed as he gave light, graceful nods to each side in greeting. He was flanked by his two most loyal companions, Jin Yang and Chen Xing.

Jin Yang stood with impeccable posture, his sharp eyes scanning the jubilant spectators. With his stern face and arms crossed over his chest, he was the very picture of a warrior who took his role with absolute seriousness.

In contrast, Chen Xing’s presence was like a gentle spring breeze. Carrying a warm and kind expression, he waved to the cheerful crowd without pause. The natural curve of his lips conveyed a delicate softness that balanced Jin Yang’s severe intensity.

The true spectacle of the procession, however, knelt behind them: the demon Fu Jing had single-handedly subdued. His hands were bound in heavy iron shackles, his broad shoulders slightly hunched in defeat.

Fu Jing smirked. That is correct. Not only did he look invincible, he was invincible.

Though he was small in stature and pale in complexion, he was not to be trifled with. Unmatched among his peers, he’d never lost a battle in the twenty-four years he’d lived, to man or creature, dead or alive.

So had he also fought and captured this demon all by himself.

But this was no ordinary feat.

Not only because the demon was taller and broader than Fu Jing, but also because demons were famously known to be considerably stronger than humans. And yet, against Fu Jing, not even a demon of such calibre stood a chance.

The battle that had led to today’s parade had begun like any other.

Fu Jing had been patrolling the area as usual, clad in his beloved silver armour. Just as he regrouped with his companions, urgent news of a demon sighting reached them. The demon was said to be large, with red hair and black horns.

Alarmed, Fu Jing issued commands without a second’s hesitation.

“Chen Xing, you calm down the townspeople. Jin Yang, you protect the royal family. I will take care of the demon.”

“Alone?!” his companions exclaimed in unison.

“It’s just a demon, what could possibly happen?” Fu Jing said. Though the smile he carried was cold, the flames of ambition in his eyes burned all the brighter.

Jin Yang and Chen Xing exchanged a concerned glance, then cupped their hands and heeded his orders.

As Fu Jing briskly strode toward the place of the sighting, a panicked, chaotic crowd of people swarmed in the opposite direction. The moment they spotted him, recognition flickered across their faces.

“It’s Yinyue-jun!”

Their fear was momentarily replaced by excitement, and hope filled their unsettled hearts.

People admired and respected Fu Jing, but it hadn’t always been like that. Compared to others his age, he’d always been inferior in physique. Yet, the relentless mockery and doubt from his family and peers had only fuelled his ambition. By the age of sixteen, he’d risen to become the strongest of his generation, unparalleled in his skills.

A couple of girls, huddled together in fear, couldn’t help but swoon over him as they passed, their fright mingling with admiration.

Oblivious to their reaction, Fu Jing asked the girls, “Has a demon with red hair and black horns been seen here?”

The girls pointed straight ahead. “Yes, that way! Just down this hill, on the meadow!”

Fu Jing bowed his head in thanks and continued down the path until it opened to a meadow dotted with blooming flowers. A narrow, crystal-clear stream meandered through the grass, cutting the field in two.

And there he was.

On the other side of the stream, with his back to Fu Jing, stood the demon.

The demon was indeed of tall build with broad shoulders. His long, shaggy hair cascaded over his back in thick waves—a deep auburn that blazed like fire in the sunlight.

He wore a sleeveless vest, dyed the colour of blood and fastened with a belt of coarse brown fur. The loose, flowing fabric of his white pants, tucked into his dark leather boots, provided an airy contrast to his sturdy frame.

Fu Jing approached without hesitation, stopping at the edge of his side of the meadow. Although he didn’t care to muffle his steps, the demon only turned around once Fu Jing had come to a halt.

Fu Jing’s heart slightly jumped at the sight of the demon. Framed by dark red hair, the demon’s face was unnervingly handsome, with sharp, striking features. His open vest revealed a smooth, broad chest, its powerful muscles well-defined—that much Fu Jing had to admit.

The demon wore a smug expression, his dark eyes accompanied by a red gleam. On either side of his forehead was a small, black horn.

Once their eyes met, both moved within a split second.

The demon jumped over, black claws slashing through the air while Fu Jing unsheathed his sword to parry the blow with a metallic clang. The impact sent a jolt through Fu Jing’s arms, his feet sliding ever so slightly across the grass. He gritted his teeth, pushing back against the force pressing down on him.

For a beat, they were locked in place—claws grinding against steel, breaths hot and ragged.

Then, with a burst of strength, Fu Jing wrenched himself free, forcing the demon back in the same motion. His next strike was blocked by the demon’s arm, yet the blade didn’t break his skin.

Fu Jing’s mind raced as he deflected the demon’s counterattacks.

Though they could be considered equal in strength, he quickly realised that the demon’s power was not to be trifled with. Each blow sent a faint tremor through his arms, reminding him that this was no ordinary opponent.

A thin sheen of sweat began to form along his back, his breaths coming quicker. It had been a long time since he’d faced such a worthy adversary.

Still, the demon wasn’t as fierce as expected. Once Fu Jing had worked out the rhythm of the demon’s movements, the strikes became almost predictable.

Fu Jing’s lips curled. Got you.

With swift, unrelenting slashes of his sword, he seized the advantage, pushing the demon further and further back. While the demon nimbly dodged the strikes, Fu Jing didn’t give him another chance to attack.

The fight dragged on for a while until Fu Jing decided it was time to put an end to this. Reaching into his robes, he pulled out a chain talisman that suppressed demonic qi, and immediately activated it.

Thick silver chains shot forth, coiling around the demon’s muscular arms like metallic serpents and locking his wrists in sturdy black shackles. For a fleeting moment, the grin that had clung to the demon’s face faltered.

The weight of the shackles forced the demon to his knees and Fu Jing immediately pressed his sword to the demon’s neck.

While Fu Jing tried to catch his breath, adrenaline rushing through his veins, the demon didn’t move. He remained on his knees, his head slightly inclined. With the tip of his sword, Fu Jing lifted the demon’s chin, forcing him to look up.

Instead of fear, defeat or frustration, the demon’s face held nothing but a smug, unbothered smile. When their eyes met, Fu Jing’s heart began to race, a wicked grin spreading across his own lips.

He did it. He defeated the demon!

And for that, he was celebrated with a grand victory parade. After all, how often did one get to see a living, breathing demon—and survive?

The demon’s smug grin didn’t falter once, not even when he was displayed like a trophy at the parade. He kept his head inclined, his face immersed in shadow. Only when he was escorted through the streets were his features fully visible. Carrying that relentless smirk, his gaze never once strayed from Fu Jing as if no one else existed.

Their last stop of the day was the dungeon, where Fu Jing shoved the demon into a cell. Before he could close the door, an energetic young man came running down the dungeon stairs.

“Yinyue-jun! Yinyue-jun!” he called out, waving a hand over his head, his eyes shining brighter than the moon outside.

It was Liang Feng.

He grasped Fu Jing’s hands and shook them vigorously. “You once again demonstrated your unmatched skills today! It’s such an honour to call myself your disciple!”

Fu Jing smiled. “A-Feng, I’m truly grateful for your kind words, but as I’ve said before, I don’t take dis–”

“What’s there to be proud of?”

Fu Jing’s expression froze when he heard that voice, so deep it seemed to reverberate through his very bones. With wide eyes he stared at the others, who simply stared back and shrugged.

He turned toward the demon, who was kneeling in his cell, his figure backlit by the soft glow of the moon.

During the entire process, the demon hadn’t said a word—not a single one. Not when he was attacked, not when he was defeated, and not when he was presented to the other humans. It was only now that he suddenly spoke up.

Though the demon’s head was bowed, Fu Jing could still discern his smile. He took a step towards the demon and replied in a measured tone, “I defeated you, a demon. Who knows what mischief you would’ve caused if I hadn’t stopped you.”

The demon snorted. “I didn’t do shit. I was minding my own business when you came at me out of nowhere.” He lifted his head. As his smile stretched wider, it revealed his sharp teeth, his grin now mocking and condescending. “Bullying the weak is a cheap victory, is it not?”

“The weak?!” Liang Feng exclaimed. He took an angry step forward, but Fu Jing extended an arm to hold the youth back, his eyes still fixed on the demon.

Although Fu Jing understood Liang Feng’s indignation, he remained cool and composed. “You’re a demon.”

“In the human realm,” the demon retorted. “Maybe you’ve never learned the basics, but humans use spiritual qi, and demons use demonic qi. Demonic qi isn’t as abundant in the human realm. It’s rather hard to find, actually. So how can this be called a fair fight? If you really want to claim this as a proper victory, try and fight me in the demon realm.”

Fu Jing balled his hands into fists, his jaw tightening as he gritted his teeth. He wouldn’t admit it aloud, but the demon had a point.

High-level demons of his calibre usually had no trouble hiding, so Fu Jing had assumed this one must’ve been especially cocky. Hence, it was all the more surprising that he was so easily defeated. Could it be that the demon really hadn’t been at full strength?

“Fu Jing…” Jin Yang felt that Fu Jing was considering the demon’s proposal and wanted to stop him, but it was too late.

As Fu Jing reached his decision, the tension in his face and fists eased. “Fine,” he said, his gaze still cold.

“Fu Jing!”

“Yinyue-jun?!”

Fu Jing disregarded his companions. “But just you against me. No foul play.”

The demon’s malicious grin faded into a smug smile. He dipped his head in a slight nod, a low chuckle rumbling from his throat. “You have my word.”

After they had locked up the demon, Fu Jing’s companions urged him to reconsider.

“He’s a demon, Fu Jing. You can’t trust his word!” Jin Yang said emphatically.

Chen Xing agreed. “He said he was at a disadvantage here, but won’t he be too powerful in his own territory??”

Fu Jing stood by the window of his room, gazing at the moon, his expression pensive. After his companions had expressed their concerns, he said, “I don’t know why, but I have the feeling he’s honest.”

“Bullshit! Maybe he’s cast a spell on you. He will deceive you, it’s in his nature!” Jin Yang warned.

“It doesn’t matter. I can defeat him, even if he plays dirty.” Fu Jing finally turned around. “It’s decided. We’re going to release him to the demon realm tomorrow.”

“…” His companions didn’t know what else to say, knowing full well it was impossible to change Fu Jing’s mind.

No sooner had the sun risen to greet them with its warm rays than Fu Jing, his two companions and the demon were standing at the gate to the demon realm. Two imposing golden statues of threshold guardians flanked either side of the entrance, a swirl of ethereal light dancing between them.

The area was sparsely populated, but contrary to belief, it wasn’t bleak and desolate. The gate was located in a lush plain, surrounded by a vivid forest and bushes that bloomed in different colours. Of course, no one lived nearby; there wasn’t a single town in a very large radius.

“I will give you the advantage and follow you in about an hour. That should give you enough time to recuperate for a fair battle,” Fu Jing explained as he removed the shackles from the demon’s wrists, not sparing him a single glance.

“How generous.” The demon still carried a smile on his face, his eyes fixed solely on Fu Jing. He completely ignored Jin Yang and Chen Xing. His bearing was so domineering, it felt as if only he and Fu Jing were present at that moment.

Jin Yang and Chen Xing shared an awkward look, both feeling incredibly out of place. Beads of sweat formed on their foreheads.

The shackles clattered to the ground with a heavy thud. The demon rubbed his wrists and rolled his shoulders to release the tension. He then saluted Fu Jing with two fingers and, without another word, stepped over the threshold into the demon realm.

As promised, Fu Jing waited for an hour. On the minute, he bid his companions farewell. The two still couldn’t shake their uneasy feeling, but any further protest would be tantamount to an insult, so they just cupped their hands and bowed their heads, silently wishing him the best of luck.

With confident strides, Fu Jing marched toward the entrance of the demon realm and crossed the threshold without a second thought.