Deviant: No Longer Human

The sect master's daughter, however, was a different story.

Though she was much stronger in cultivation than Shen, she was naive, having never left the sect in the sixteen years since she had begun her training.

The sect master, concerned for her well-being, needed someone he could trust to guard her on a journey to the mortal world.

He hired Shen, entrusting him with the task of accompanying his daughter for one year.

During this time, as they faced tribulations and challenges together, the man and the girl began to develop deep feelings for each other.

Shen, though weaker in cultivation, had lived nearly a century and possessed a wisdom and experience far beyond his years.

His keen insight allowed him to see through plots and schemes, protecting the girl on multiple occasions.

When they returned to the sect after their year-long journey, the sect master did not oppose their budding love.

In fact, he supported it, seeing the bond they had forged through trials as something worthy of his blessing.

But not everyone in the sect was so accepting.

The sect master's sister-in-law, a woman of strong opinions and even stronger ambitions, disapproved of the match.

She felt that Shen's talent, while impressive, was nowhere near enough to match her niece's potential.

She believed that he would only bring disaster upon her, unable to protect her when the time came.

Nevertheless, the sect master silenced his sister-in-law, insisting that Shen's worth lay not just in his cultivation, but in his character and cunning.

But the path of love and cultivation is never smooth. Shen soon embarked on a mission alone, leaving the sect for nine long months.

During his absence, Ning, his second wife, was finally released by her master.

Ning's master had discovered that her disciple had fallen in love with a mere mortal—a discovery that filled her with both fear and disapproval.

For years, she had kept Ning confined, not allowing her to leave.

But the master's time was running out. Suffering from a grave injury, she knew she had little time left.

Despite her initial resistance, in her final days, she gave everything she had to Ning—her teachings, her treasures, even the sect itself.

Ning was devastated by her master's death, weeping for three nights and days without rest.

For so many years, she had been trapped, unable to seek out the man she loved.

Now, freed but filled with sorrow, she wondered if Shen was even still alive, or if time and fate had taken him from her as well.

Shen, unaware of the trials Ning had faced or the events that had happened in his absence, returned from his mission with a sense of accomplishment.

As he approached the sect, he was taken aback to see the sect master's daughter standing at the entrance, her eyes brightening as she spotted him.

For nine long months, she had waited for him there, every single day, at the same spot, even in the heavy rain... hoping for his return.

The devotion in her eyes was unmistakable, and it struck Shen deeply.

As he gazed at her, Shen felt as though he was falling in love all over again.

The guilt he had carried for his two wives—Bai, whom he had lost tragically, and Ning, whom he had been separated from for so long—seemed to melt away in the face of the girl's sincerity.

Overcome with emotion, he decided in that moment that he would marry her.

How could he not, when her love was so pure, so unwavering?

But just as she flew toward him, her arms outstretched in joy, an enemy of Shen's appeared from the shadows, launching a deadly strike aimed at his back.

Normally, Shen's keen senses would have detected the threat, but he was so overwhelmed by his emotions, so eager to embrace the girl, that he failed to notice the danger.

It was only when she screamed in terror that Shen realized the peril behind him.

He clicked his tongue in frustration, but it was too late to defend himself.

To his astonishment, the girl, Ling'er, threw herself between him and the enemy, taking the full force of the blow meant for him.

The enemy quickly fled, leaving Shen holding Ling'er as she began to slip away. Her life force was fading fast.

For the first time in his long life, Shen cried.

The tears flowed freely as he cradled her in his arms, his heart breaking with each passing second.

The sect master and the rest of the sect rushed to the scene, stunned by the sight before them.

Even the sect master's sister-in-law, who had always opposed their union, arrived, her powerful aura filling the air.

The sect master checked his daughter's condition, but the prognosis was grim.

Ling'er was beyond saving, her life slipping through their fingers like sand.

Desperate and heartbroken, Shen turned to the sister-in-law, who was known for her mysterious and powerful background.

He no longer cared about her disapproval or the fact that she had always wanted to keep him and Ling'er apart.

In this moment, he was willing to do anything, sacrifice anything, as long as Ling'er could be saved.

He begged, his voice cracking with anguish.

He cried, his tears an evidence to the depth of his love and desperation.

The sister-in-law, after a long silence, agreed to save Ling'er, but only on one condition: Shen must vow never to come near Ling'er again.

Ling'er, whose name meant "little bell," had become the bell that rang through his soul, and Shen didn't hesitate.

Without a second thought, he agreed, swearing the oath with no reservations.

As long as she could live, he would sacrifice his own happiness.

But in his grief, Shen failed to notice the fleeting look of surprise that crossed the sister-in-law's face.

She had already intended to save Ling'er, even without his desperate pleas.

Normally, the shrewd Shen would have seen through her act, but in his current state, overwhelmed by sadness, he was unable to think clearly.

His only concern was not losing Ling'er.

After the oath was sworn, the sister-in-law took Ling'er to the Phoenix Palace, a sacred place where she would be reborn through the flames.

It was a place of great power, where the cycle of life and death could be defied, if only for those strong enough to endure the process.

Days later, as Shen's sorrow began to subside, he realized the gravity of the vow he had taken.

He had been tricked by the sister-in-law into swearing an oath that would forever keep him apart from Ling'er, even after she was saved.

Yet, despite the bitterness of the realization, Shen could only sigh.

He did not regret it.

He had saved Ling'er, and that was all that mattered.

But there was still one matter that consumed him—revenge.

He blamed the enemy who had attacked him outside the sect for everything that had gone wrong.

He poured all his energy into tracking down this enemy, determined to kill him and finally settle the score.

However, fate was not kind. When Shen finally found the enemy and cornered him, the man took his own life, denying Shen the satisfaction of completing his revenge.

The enemy's final act of suicide left Shen with a hollow victory, his quest for vengeance unfulfilled.