Taking advantage of Liwei's stunned state, Jianyu twitched his hips and kicked him in the chest. But Liwei already saw that coming. He snapped his fan shut and used it to deflect Jianyu's attack. Powerful energy rippled out from the impact like a violent gust of wind, ruffling their hair and robes. The strewn leaves swirled through the air like butterflies.

Jianyu gasped and squinted. Liwei remained motionless, his expression blank. Jianyu clenched his teeth as he drew his foot back. Before he could launch another attack, Yu Xuan struck his back with a palm strike, sending him kneeling to the ground and coughing up blood.

"How dare you attack our lord!" Yu Xuan growled, his eyes flashing with killing intent as he glared at Jianyu. "You're looking for death!"

Liwei stepped closer, looking at the demon soldier with cold eyes, and said, "You took me for a fool, Jianyu. You truly have disappointed me. Now tell me, what should I do to a traitor like you?"

Jianyu paled when he lifted his head and looked at Liwei. It was as if he saw his doom in those piercing, merciless eyes. Fear flashed across his face. He bowed low.

"Please forgive me, my lord! I was wrong and foolish. I didn't mean to hurt my master," Jianyu begged, his face pressed against the ground.

Liwei scoffed as he watched him, slowly waving his fan.

"Your loyalty is no longer to me, Jianyu," Liwei stated. "You obeyed someone else's command, broke the law by coming here without my permission, and spied on me." He squatted in front of him, his eyes glinting dangerously. "You betrayed me, Jianyu; you are no longer a soldier of mine."

Blood drained from Jianyu's face. He then kowtowed, knocking his head against the ground once more. "Please forgive me, my lord! I will never betray you again, and I promise never to tell anyone about the masked human girl from Tian Village."

At the mention of her, Liwei's eyes grew wide, but he quickly regained his composure. He stood up, a faint smile on his lips.

"You're right. You will not tell anyone about her. You won't even have the chance," Liwei said.

"My lord!" Jianyu burst out, his eyes bulging with fear. He paused and coughed up blood. "I'll accept whatever punishment you impose. I swear never to betray you again and to serve you until death. Please spare my life!"

Liwei held his fan to his chest. "Alright, I think I can forgive you." He nodded at Yu Xuan. "You can release him now."

Yu Xuan did as he was told and untied Jianyu's hands.

Jianyu's face lit up. Liwei felt the urge to laugh when he saw his pathetic face. He couldn't believe such a fearful and foolish demon had once served him. How did he end up in his army? Liwei reminded himself that he would choose his people more carefully the next time.

"Thank you, my lord!" Jianyu's voice was filled with so much relief. He kowtowed several times. "Thank you for showing mercy to this lowly demon."

"Not yet. I haven't forgiven you yet," Liwei said with a hint of amusement in his voice. "Before you can earn my forgiveness, you must first pay me with someone's life."

"I will kill anyone you ask me to, my lord," Jianyu responded, his head on the ground.

Liwei snorted. "Please stand up."

With a childlike smile on his face, Jianyu quickly rose to his feet and clasped his hands in front of his chest. "Thank you, my lord. I will not disappoint you again. Please tell me whose life you want."

"Alright," Liwei said with a nod. He paused. "I want yours."

Jianyu froze. His clasped hands started to tremble. "M-my lord?"

A slow smile spread across Liwei's lips as he waved his fan. Jianyu truly mistook him for a fool. Liwei wasn't stupid enough to forget such an offense. He wasn't that naive to forgive him and give him another chance to do the same mistake. There was no point keeping a traitor like him. Not in his army. Not in the Demon Realm. Jianyu was a cowardly demon who was easily manipulated. He could be a threat merely for his wavering loyalty. He wasn't someone who deserved another chance. Not even forgiveness.

Unless he pays with his life.

"Jianyu, my man," Liwei said, shaking his head. "You must be a fool to believe you could still live after offending me. No amount of punishment could ever make up for your act of betrayal."

"I beg you, my lord. Have mercy on me!" Tears welled up in Jianyu's eyes and streamed down his cheeks.

What a pathetic demon.

"I'm not a fool, Jianyu. Now that you have valuable information in your hands, it wouldn't be a wise move to let you live. There's a high chance you'll betray me again, so why take that risk when I could just kill you to prevent future harm to myself?" He paused and gave him another cold smile. "But if you're really desperate for my forgiveness, I could give it to you after you die. Because forgiveness comes after death."

Without giving him time to react, Liwei slashed his neck with the folding fan. The fan sliced through the skin and bone as sharp and merciless as a sword's blade. Hot blood spouted out of the demon's neck like a fountain. Jianyu's head fell to the ground. Liwei watched the headless body fall to its side with a calm and amused expression, then wiped the blood off his face with the back of his hand.

"Now you're forgiven," he said with a wicked smile before turning around and walking away, his white robe fluttering.

"Yu Xuan," Liwei called.

"My lord?"

"Take the head. Report this to Prince Zhaoyan and advise him to keep an eye out for the Four Generals. Use the traitor's head to warn those who plan to rebel and steal what's mine that their heads will be next."

"Yes, my lord," Yu Xuan answered with a bow before returning to retrieve Jianyu's head.

"How's the human girl?" Liwei asked as Yu Xuan fell into step beside him.

Yu Xuan was holding the severed head by the hair, leaving a trail of crimson droplets in his wake.

"The human girl has returned to the Chen residence, my lord."

Liwei nodded and clasped his hands behind his back. "Good. The old man might pay her a visit tomorrow. Let's wait until she's taken care of this matter, then I'll show myself to her."

They walked in silence for a moment. Fallen leaves rustled beneath their feet. Wind slithered through the trees.

"Why are you helping the human girl, my lord?" Yu Xuan asked.

"Helping her? I'm not. I'm only helping her because it's part of my plan, and I need her to accomplish my plans. Think of it like chess. She's this valuable piece, a pawn I need to promote for my own benefit. I'm doing this all for myself." He paused and looked at Yu Xuan. "I'm doing this for the Demon Realm."

Yu Xuan smiled. "Of course, my lord." Then he clasped in hands in apology. "Please forgive me for questioning you."

"Besides, I know we want the same thing," Liwei added, and Yu Xuan looked at him with curious eyes. "To bring this world to its knees."