I Was Forced to Become the Demon King's Succubus Lover - Chapter 3

The sounds from the stairwell had yet to fade away.

Ta Liya had come and gone multiple times without drawing Su Sheng’s attention.

“This is a magical potion that can be used for anesthesia. Mix this into water and give it to Norton to drink, understand?”

“But, but…”

“This is a joint request from the Temple and the Kingdom. Do you dare defy it?”

“…I wouldn’t dare.”

Just then, a soft, questioning voice came from above: “Ta Liya?”

The voice was familiar, it was Su Sheng’s.

Ta Liya jolted, quickly tucking the potion that had been shoved into her hand into her robes, and hurried upstairs.

“Y-Your Holiness, I just went to use the restroom. Have you prepared a new potion?”

In truth, Ta Liya’s face was filled with nervousness and guilt, appearing very unnatural. Unfortunately, Su Sheng was too preoccupied with researching and testing the antidote to notice any of it. He beckoned to Ta Liya, his voice as cool and gentle as ever.

“Yes, come quickly.”

Su Sheng had always been patient with sincere and simple-minded children like Ta Liya.

But such people often lacked strong opinions and were easily manipulated.

Ta Liya returned to the potion room and, while Su Sheng was flipping through ancient texts, secretly poured the anesthetic potion from her robes into Su Sheng’s water cup.

Perhaps it was her first time doing something like this, or perhaps a strange sense of guilt had welled up inside her, after administering the drug, Ta Liya became somewhat neurotic, staring unblinkingly at Su Sheng. When Su Sheng picked up the water cup and prepared to drink, Ta Liya’s guilt reached its peak.

“Your Holiness!” Ta Liya suddenly called out.

Su Sheng paused his motion of drinking, set the cup back down, and turned to look at Ta Liya, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

“What’s wrong?”

Ta Liya opened her mouth, her thoughts swirling in her mind several times before she finally said:

“You should take care of your health too. Drink more water.”

“Mm, thank you.”

The potion was colorless and odorless, nearly impossible to detect once mixed into water. Su Sheng drank it and continued his research on the antidote.

Su Sheng flipped through the ancient text he had been reading earlier, feeling a headache coming on.

In truth, the newly concocted potions all had some inhibitory effect on the curse cast by the Demon King, but the effect was minimal. Setting aside their differences, the only commonality among these potions was that they contained his own blood.

And not just ordinary blood, it was blood infused with the magic of the light element.

Perhaps the dosage of blood wasn’t large enough?

Thinking this, he made another cut, increasing the amount of blood drawn. This time, he drew four to five times more blood than before, and at the same time, the light-element magic within his body rapidly drained away.

Pale-faced, Su Sheng didn’t notice the conflicted look Ta Liya cast from behind him. After the bloodletting, Su Sheng was extremely weak.

He felt dizzy and could no longer stand steadily, so he could only wave for Ta Liya to come over and drink the potion left on the table herself.

Ta Liya walked over and drank the potion mixed with blood.

“How do you feel?” Su Sheng asked faintly, one hand supporting his forehead as he lifted his eyelids.

“I-I feel the sunlight is so warm, Your Holiness. I think I’m better… No, no, I really am better…”

As soon as she finished speaking, Ta Liya’s pale, vampire-like skin regained a healthy color, and her cat ears disappeared.

Ta Liya was overjoyed, spinning in circles on the open ground. She picked up a cup that had been prepared earlier and handed it to Su Sheng.

“Your Holiness, you’ve worked hard. Please have some more water.”

A hint of relief also flowed in Su Sheng’s eyes, his joyful face like melting ice and snow. He took the cup,

After a few sips, the dizziness grew stronger and stronger until the world blurred completely.

In a daze, he felt himself falling to the ground, and many familiar faces entered the scene.

…

Meanwhile, in the Spire Castle of the Abyss, a mirror nearly twice the height of a person stood tilted in the center of the castle, facing the throne.

On the throne, the Demon King lounged lazily, occasionally swirling the wine glass in his hand, the deep red liquid emitting a rich, mellow aroma that stained his pale, thin lips.

The Demon King watched with keen interest as Su Sheng struggled futilely, bound by his own people in the mirror.

He took a gentle sip from the rim of the glass, then raised it toward the mirror, his eyes filled with amusement and cruelty. “My dear prince, how do you like this grand gift?”

…

When Su Sheng woke again, he found himself inside a carriage.

The carriage’s decor was familiar, it was the one the Saint often used, and everything inside remained unchanged, except for his bound self.

His hands and feet were tied with thick ropes, and to prevent him from using magic, even his mouth had been gagged.

Su Sheng remained silent for a moment before deciding to kick the wall with his legs to attract someone’s attention and assess the situation.

Just as Su Sheng expected, someone entered shortly after he began kicking.

Backlit, he couldn’t see the person’s face clearly, but as soon as they spoke, Su Sheng froze in shock.

“Your Holiness, would you like some water?”

The person before him gently removed the gag.

His movements were tender, treating Su Sheng as if he were a snowman, afraid he might melt with the slightest mishandling. Yet, despite this, Su Sheng couldn’t help but feel a chill in his heart.

His expression cold, he looked up at the newcomer and uttered the name he had called countless times before: “Fei Meng, what do you want?”

Fei Meng said nothing, his expression unchanged. He simply untied the water flask from his side and brought it to Su Sheng’s lips.

The rim of the flask brushed against Su Sheng’s lips. With nowhere to retreat, he pursed them tightly, trying to avoid it, before gritting his teeth and saying, “Answer me, Fei Meng.”

Throughout this, Su Sheng kept his eyes fixed on Fei Meng, afraid to miss any subtle expression, afraid he might misunderstand him, afraid he might come to hate him.

But Fei Meng still let him down.

The man before him twitched his face a few times before finally bowing to Su Sheng. “Your Holiness, please forgive the decision I made for the kingdom. The three-day pact is approaching, and we have no choice but to offer you as a sacrifice to the Demon King to beg for his mercy.”

The three-day pact?

Su Sheng was stunned. It took him a moment to recall which pact it was. His lips parted and closed, his eyes fixed unblinkingly on Fei Meng, before he finally spoke bitterly.

“…Didn’t I already concoct the potion to lift the curse?”

Su Sheng’s voice was soft, almost inaudible.

Fei Meng looked down at Su Sheng and suddenly felt a wave of dizziness.

Su Sheng did nothing but look up at him. His jawline and neck were accentuated by the angle, his chest rising and falling gently beneath the tightly wrapped robes of the Saint.

Everything remained as it was, yet Fei Meng inexplicably felt a pang of pity, as if Su Sheng had finally shed his hardened shell, revealing a fragile, easily shattered interior.

Truly like a snowman.

His throat moved soundlessly, his expression dimmed, his voice hoarse: “Your Holiness, we have failed you.”

“People are saying: humans who fail to find a cure within three days and turn into demons will be reduced to ashes, unable to withstand the scorching sunlight. And you, the Saint, by offering you as a sacrifice to the Lord of the Abyss to appease His wrath, we will be reborn.”

Fei Meng continued: “Although you found a way to cure us, neither your physical condition nor the time constraints allow you to save everyone in the city.”

In Fei Meng’s imagination, Su Sheng might have raged and shouted, questioned him in disbelief, or even lashed out with fists and feet, cursing everyone and lamenting the world.

But none of that happened.

Su Sheng listened quietly throughout, and when it was over, he merely trembled his eyelashes before closing his eyes slowly, like an old, worn-out machine.

Silence filled the carriage.

Fei Meng said nothing more, unsure of what else he could say.

He took out a knife and severed Su Sheng’s Achilles tendons, feeling the body in his hands tremble with intense pain. He only glanced deeply at Su Sheng, leaving behind the words “Take care of yourself” before turning and walking away.

As the carriage door opened and closed, a sliver of sunlight spilled inside, making the crimson on the floor unbearably glaring.

Su Sheng lay immersed in a pool of blood, unexpectedly feeling no pain, no anger or fury, only exhaustion.

He shifted slightly to lie flat, his mind drifting back to when he first entered this world.

Back then, he often huddled by the fireplace with the young Fei Meng, reading books. He was still weak then, frequently bullied, relying entirely on Fei Meng’s protection. Fei Meng had even promised to protect him for a lifetime. Now, looking back, he felt like the spent ashes in that fireplace.

Su Sheng moved again, only now beginning to feel a hint of pain. He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze vacant, fixed on the corner of the window.

Outside, greenery flourished, birds flew, and insects chirped.

He recognized this road, having traveled it many times. Though he had seen these sights countless times before, today they felt strangely unfamiliar.

Whenever he had ridden in this carriage before, it was with crystal goblets, a holy sword at his side, attendants following, and crowds cheering along the way. Never had he imagined that one day he would lie here, his tendons severed, waiting to die.

The carriage was too quiet, making the sounds outside all the more distinct.

Su Sheng heard the complaints of those outside the carriage.

“Why did he provoke the Demon King?”

“Why must we suffer punishment on his behalf?”

“Why doesn’t he turn into a demon?”

…

The blood had dried somewhat, becoming sticky and unpleasant. Su Sheng shifted uncomfortably before giving up, lying still in the carriage as he listened to the insults hurled at him from outside.

Strangely, the more he listened, the lighter he felt, until finally, he even found himself silently agreeing in his heart.

Yes, yes, yes, it was my fault for being so ungrateful, challenging the Demon King merely for a taste of freedom.

Yes, yes, it was my fault for overestimating myself, foolishly believing I could break the Demon King’s curse.

All the way, Su Sheng echoed the curses in his heart with the jeers outside. After what felt like an eternity, he finally sensed the carriage coming to a halt somewhere.

Su Sheng lifted his gaze to look.

Here, the sky stretched endlessly, yet it was so still it seemed devoid of life, a lifeless expanse.

Outside the carriage, people cheered joyfully: “We’re here.”

Soon after, Fei Meng and several temple staff entered, preparing to carry him out. Su Sheng let them do as they pleased, only taking a cursory glance during the process. But the faces he glimpsed were all familiar ones.

Su Sheng closed his eyes, unwilling to look further.

The air was thick with the scent of blood. He felt himself being placed on something with a stone-like texture, uneven and uncomfortable beneath him.

While those people untied him and knelt below, Su Sheng secretly opened his eyes, taking in the entire surrounding scene.

As he had expected, the array beneath was drawn in blood. The slightly rugged lines told him that whoever had drawn this magic circle was not particularly skilled in magic.

Of course, aside from him, who else would be willing to delve so deeply into magic to defeat the Demon King?

This was a good opportunity, he thought.

Sacrifices were best performed during the day. Since it was now dusk, this ritual would have to wait until tomorrow.

He only needed to wait for nightfall.

He only needed to wait for those people to fall asleep.

Su Sheng pretended to close his eyes.

The sound of hoofbeats approached from a distance.

“Want some water?”

The newcomer shook a bottle, the water sloshing inside.

Seeing Su Sheng remain silent, the person added, “Stop pretending, Your Holiness. I’m guarding you tonight, so put away your little schemes. I won’t let you succeed.”

It was Fei Meng. Su Sheng paid no mind to his words.

Night fell, and the surroundings grew even quieter, so much so that even the breathing of those nearby was clearly audible.

In such silence, people finally couldn’t hold back.

“It’s so cold here.”

“Obviously. We’re so close to the Abyss, how could it not be cold?”

“Will there be demons at night?”

“Look at you, scared of demons? Aren’t we the demons now?”

“His Holiness, the Saint…”

“Why bring him up!”

Su Sheng could sense Fei Meng sitting beside him the entire time. He didn’t want to speak, but after a while, he opened his eyes: “Dark energy is approaching.”

Fei Meng looked surprised. “How is that possible? I didn’t sense anything.”

Su Sheng continued, “Have you forgotten my constitution?”

“Right, you’re sensitive to light elements, and dark elements too,” Fei Meng murmured.

Su Sheng said, “They’re here.”

Sure enough, a flock of vulture demons flew over from the direction of the Abyss. Fei Meng’s expression turned serious as he picked up a nearby sword and urged everyone to prepare for battle.

At that moment, no one noticed that Su Sheng’s gaze was not fixed on the vulture demons but rather on the opposite side of the Abyss.

On the other side of the Abyss, a pair of eyes hidden in the darkness watched Su Sheng. Su Sheng, in turn, opened his eyes and met the gaze without flinching.

Deep within the Abyss, inside a castle, the Demon King watched a certain point in the void with great interest. He could feel the blood in his body flowing faster.

It had been a long, long time since anyone had excited him like this.

His pale fingertips seemed to reach across time and space, brushing against the cheek of this new Saint, filled with hope.

Soon, you will be my servant, Norton Similias.

A flock of vulture demons disrupted the formation of the crowd. While Fei Meng was busy fighting and unable to keep an eye on Su Sheng, it gave him the perfect opportunity.

Dragging his bloodied wrist, Su Sheng quietly altered a single stroke in the magic circle beneath him.

His teacher, a man of high status, had once called him a genius in the study of magic circles. He was terrifyingly skilled in every field, except for the path of the knight.

In truth, Fei Meng was the most suitable candidate to wield the Holy Sword, but unfortunately, only successive saints had the right to use it.

He stealthily covered the altered part with his body, not daring to move recklessly for fear of smudging the pattern, and held this position until dawn the next day.

The group was exhausted, and it took them half the night to recover and regroup.

When there was finally a moment to breathe, Fei Meng approached with someone in tow. Su Sheng recognized the man, his name is Luo Ta, a staff member of the temple. Though his rank wasn’t high, he had a slight proficiency in magic circles.

Su Sheng’s heart sank slightly, but he remained expressionless as he shifted his body slightly.

“Luo Ta, check if there’s anything wrong with the magic circle,” Fei Meng said.

Su Sheng knew all too well that although his alteration was subtle, someone proficient in magic circles would still be able to spot the difference upon careful inspection.

Sure enough, Luo Ta approached. He adjusted his glasses, crouched down, and meticulously examined the bloodlines.

Outwardly, Su Sheng remained calm, but inwardly, he clenched his teeth.

The magic circle was vast. After a while, Fei Meng asked, “Have you finished checking the outer circle?”

“Yes, there’s no issue,” Luo Ta replied.

Now it was time to inspect the inner circle, the very area Su Sheng had altered. He forced himself to stay calm, to think. There had to be another way.

Luo Ta adjusted his glasses again, as if they weren’t fitting well.

Su Sheng noticed keenly that Luo Ta was nearsighted. His glasses had likely been damaged during the fight against the vulture demons the previous night, requiring frequent adjustments.

As the sun began to rise, Su Sheng suddenly had an idea.

When Luo Ta reached his area to inspect, Su Sheng deliberately stalled for time. As the sunlight reflected off the lenses, Luo Ta’s vision wavered for just a moment. In that instant, Su Sheng turned his body and pressed back down onto the ground.

“Finished checking?” Su Sheng asked deliberately.

Luo Ta was, in fact, a bit of a coward. Seeing Su Sheng’s cold expression, he instinctively replied, “Yes, yes, all done.”

Beside him, Fei Meng pressed further, “Are you absolutely sure?”

Luo Ta thought for a moment. He hadn’t seen everything clearly, but the general pattern seemed correct. Besides, the saint was truly intimidating, perhaps it was better not to say anything.

Holding onto a sliver of hope, Luo Ta said, “Absolutely sure.”

After the inspection, everyone knelt and began chanting prayers.

Su Sheng could feel the magic circle activating, and the midday sun was about to shine upon the kingdom.

In the final second of the prayer, Luo Ta’s face turned deathly pale as he finally realized the truth. He shouted, “Stop! This isn’t a sacrificial magic circle, it’s a teleportation circle!”

But it was too late.

Meeting the horrified gazes of the crowd, Su Sheng, enveloped in the white light of teleportation, sneered and said, “Those who betray their own kind do not deserve forgiveness, not even from the Demon King.”