Pampered since childhood, she had never witnessed the treachery of the world.
When she first entered the Demon Beast Forest, before any demon beast set its sights on her, her fellow humans targeted her first.
After seeing her beauty and extraordinary clothing, the scions of a small town's lineages harbored wicked intentions.
Yun Chenxi had cultivated since childhood, and those small-town lineage scions were naturally no match for her.
Their deaths, however, drew out their elders.
Yun Chenxi's protective treasure activated on its own. Though it destroyed the experts of those small-town lineages who came seeking revenge, the treasure could not be used again for a time.
Because Yun Chenxi herself was badly injured, the smell of her blood attracted a powerful demon beast with keen senses.
As Yun Chenxi closed her eyes in despair, the pain she had imagined never came. All she heard was a demon beast's agonized roar.
She slowly opened her eyes and saw a powerful flash of sword light from Ye Muxi slay the demon beast.
Beneath the moon, a youth stood with sword in hand.
That single stroke became a dazzling moment in the years of the Heavenly Radiance Dynasty's eldest princess.
A flash of sword light slew the demon beast and also broke into the young girl's heart.
Yun Chenxi's lovely face flushed slightly as she secretly watched the youth.
Yet Ye Muxi's gaze did not linger at all on this stunningly beautiful princess.
He merely busied himself processing the demon beast, preparing to sell it to an auction house.
How infuriating! He won't even glance at this princess. So saving me was just incidental; killing demon beasts for money was the real point.
Yun Chenxi grumbled inwardly.
After finishing with the demon beast, Ye Muxi could not even be bothered to say a word. He turned to leave.
"Hey, dummy, could you protect me for a while?" Yun Chenxi looked at Ye Muxi expectantly.
Ye Muxi ignored Yun Chenxi and kept walking. "What a nuisance."
"I'll give you ten thousand spirit stones a month," Yun Chenxi said softly.
She suddenly felt a whirlwind sweep past before her, and Ye Muxi had already flashed in front of Yun Chenxi, a smile appearing on his face.
Who would turn down money?
"I would gladly serve a beauty."
Seeing how quickly Ye Muxi's expression changed, Yun Chenxi said with a petulant pout,
"Hmph! So this princess isn't even worth as much as those spirit stones!"
"Hey, dummy, what's your name? I'm Chenxi." Yun Chenxi concealed her surname.
After all, within the Heavenly Radiance Dynasty, Yun was the imperial surname and would draw far too much attention.
"My name is Ye Muxi," Ye Muxi said in a clear voice.
Gazing at the spirited youth, Yun Chenxi froze for a moment, her heart racing.
Coming back to herself, Yun Chenxi teased, "With a name like that, it seems you were born to admire me."
At a loss for words, Ye Muxi smiled faintly and silently grumbled, I'm quite an admirer of your money.
Ye Muxi turned and walked on. Yun Chenxi skipped after him, pestering him the entire way.
Thus, the two traveled together.
Afterward, they roamed the martial world side by side, adventuring along the way, taking in all the splendors of the world and escaping peril after peril. Gradually, feelings blossomed between them.
Ye Muxi's fame rose throughout their journey as he defeated prodigies from all quarters without a single loss.
Gradually, the world also noticed the beauty who always followed beside this genius.
Though Yun Chenxi disguised her appearance, she ultimately could not escape the discerning eyes of experts, and someone saw through her.
One day, Ye Muxi slew a powerful exotic beast and infused its bloodline essence into a necklace.
With his own hands, Ye Muxi carefully fastened the necklace around Yun Chenxi's neck.
Yun Chenxi's smile bloomed like a flower. In the imperial palace, she had countless treasures to wear as she pleased, yet they had scarcely touched her heart.
Among those myriad treasures, not a single one could compare with the necklace given to her by the person she loved.
Seeing Yun Chenxi's beaming face, Ye Muxi was also overjoyed.
Such was the beauty of youth. Ye Muxi did not know that treasures like this already belonged to noble people such as princesses.
He simply thought that only a treasure this beautiful was worthy of the person he loved.
In the distance, a group suddenly appeared without a sound. They were shadow guards from the imperial palace.
Seeing the arrivals, the princess's face instantly turned deathly pale, and traces of sorrow appeared in her eyes.
"Have I been discovered after all? Why are beautiful moments always so brief?"
Noticing the change in Yun Chenxi, Ye Muxi asked softly, "What's wrong, Chenxi?"
The shadow guards stepped forward and knelt on one knee in salute. "Greetings, Eldest Princess."
Hearing this, Ye Muxi was also shocked and looked at Yun Chenxi.
"I'm sorry, Muxi. My surname is actually Yun. I'm the eldest princess of the Heavenly Radiance Imperial Dynasty. I lied to you, and now I need to go back."
"You've been away for so long. Go home and visit. Why make it seem like we're parting in life or death?"
"While I'm away, let this necklace keep you company. Seeing it will be just like seeing me," Ye Muxi said with a smile.
Yun Chenxi left with the others, raising her hands and clutching the necklace tightly.
She turned back, wanting to speak, but stopped. In the end, she did not reveal the secret that she had fled an arranged marriage, offering only a bleak smile.
She knew Ye Muxi's temper. If he learned of it, he would likely fight his way to the imperial palace.
But the imperial palace had experts as numerous as clouds. He was only a youth in this world; how could he have the strength to emerge unscathed?
Yun Chenxi did not want Ye Muxi to bear such pressure and stand against an entire dynasty. This time, she would have to persuade her imperial father when she returned.
"We'll meet again someday! Let this necklace be my parting gift to Your Highness!"
Ye Muxi shouted toward the distant direction in which she had departed.
Yet Ye Muxi did not know that this departure would be their final farewell, and that it would also wear away the sharp edge of his youth.
Yun Chenxi returned to the imperial palace and threatened death, begging the reigning sovereign of Heavenly Radiance to dissolve the marriage agreement.
But a sovereign's words were no jest. The sovereign of Heavenly Radiance forcibly controlled Yun Chenxi's soul and carried out the marriage.
The timber had already become a boat, and the outcome was settled. Yun Chenxi was too ashamed to face Ye Muxi again.
Ye Muxi waited with a heart full of hope for Yun Chenxi's return, but all that arrived was a marriage announcement proclaimed to the world.
"Damn it! At worst, we brothers will take on this Heavenly Radiance Dynasty with you and help you snatch her back!"
That day, a genius among those surrounding Ye Muxi spoke.
Along their journey, Ye Muxi had beaten them into submission, and gradually, they had been drawn to his strength and character.
Many geniuses were won over by Ye Muxi's talent and followed at his side.
Among them were even quite a few scions of great clans and young masters of sects.
Throughout this journey, they had watched Ye Muxi and Yun Chenxi walk together and knew that the two sincerely loved each other.
"She hasn't returned, nor has she sent me any word. I know her wishes now."
"It was only romantic love. From now on, I'll pursue my sword Dao."
Ye Muxi forced himself to remain composed, but his trembling sword hand could fool no one.
Afterward, he embarked on the path to emperorship in this era. With the sword in his hand, he fought mighty heroes and slew heavenly demons.
Alone, he became the most dazzling rising star of this great era.
Many powers a hundred times stronger than the Heavenly Radiance Dynasty offered extremely generous terms in an attempt to recruit this heaven-blessed genius.
What puzzled those powers was that Ye Muxi refused them all and merely stood guard over this tiny dynasty.
In the end, he attained emperorship in this era, becoming one of the most powerful beings in the world and taking the title Eternal Night.
"My existence shall be the Demon Race's eternal night."