Did My Husband Kill His Wife to Prove His Dao Today?

Ming Yan transmigrated into the novel Catching Demons and Seeking the Dao, inhabiting the body of a minor cannon fodder demon with the same name. In the original story, this character was destined to die at the hands of the female lead, Mu Qingqing, a descendant of demon hunters wielding a divine artifact. However, Ming Yan possessed a unique secret: she was an unkillable demon whose body absorbed all cultivation from whoever killed her. Recognizing the danger posed by the protagonist’s halo, she devised a plan to align herself with Chu Xuanqing, the novel’s major antagonist. Chu Xuanqing was a once-in-a-millennium genius and the youngest disciple of the Profound Sky Sect, but he had failed his Tribulation Transcending ascension thirty-six times. The novel foretold that upon his forty-ninth failure, he would lose his sanity and slay his wife to attain the Dao. Ming Yan married him not out of love, but to survive; she intended to provoke him into killing her so she could absorb his immense cultivation and escape her fate as a victim.

For ten years, Ming Yan played the role of a devoted Dao Companion, enduring Chu Xuanqing’s cold demeanor and intense dual cultivation sessions while secretly plotting his demise. After another failed tribulation, she attempted to provoke him by comparing his failures to others, hoping to trigger his wrath. Instead, Chu Xuanqing responded with unexpected calm, revealing that he had already discussed sending her to Jade Balance Peak for education. Ming Yan realized his calculation was based on their intimate schedule, leaving her no room to maneuver. Desperate to accelerate the timeline, she tricked Chu Xuanqing into entering the forbidden Nightmare Forest, where she had planted a fake cultivation manual titled The Dao is Merciless, Wife-slaying Dao Attainment. She believed he would find it and kill her, allowing her to absorb his power. However, the plan failed when their spirit pet, a demonic tiger named Daju, swallowed the manual before Chu Xuanqing could retrieve it.

With her primary scheme ruined, Ming Yan attended classes at Jade Balance Peak to monitor the plot’s progress and assess the female lead’s strength. There, she encountered Mu Qingqing, who immediately sensed a demonic aura on her despite Ming Yan’s concealment. Mu Qingqing, aided by the male lead Wen Nie, attempted to test Ming Yan with her Demon-Slaying Whip. The situation escalated when Wen Nie created a diversion, allowing Mu Qingqing to strike. Just as Ming Yan prepared to fight back, Chu Xuanqing appeared. He effortlessly blocked the divine artifact and injured Mu Qingqing, demonstrating his overwhelming power. He then punished his subordinate Bai Yang for failing to protect Ming Yan, insisting on strict adherence to sect rules despite her pleas for leniency.

Chu Xuanqing’s behavior remained enigmatic. He did not kill Ming Yan, nor did he seem interested in the fake manual. Instead, he protected her from external threats while maintaining a cold, distant exterior. Ming Yan grew increasingly confused by his actions, as they contradicted the villainous trajectory described in the novel. She continued to navigate the complex social dynamics of the sect, dealing with the hostility of elite disciples and the suspicion of the demon-hunting female lead. Meanwhile, Chu Xuanqing’s tribulation failures continued, bringing him closer to the critical forty-ninth attempt. The story follows Ming Yan’s struggle to survive in a world where the protagonist’s halo threatens her existence, while Chu Xuanqing’s true intentions remain hidden beneath his ruthless reputation.

As the narrative progresses, the relationship between Ming Yan and Chu Xuanqing becomes more intricate. Ming Yan’s attempts to manipulate him for survival clash with his genuine, albeit strange, protectiveness. She discovers that Chu Xuanqing is aware of her demonic nature but chooses not to expose her. This revelation complicates her plans, as she can no longer rely on simple provocation to achieve her goal. The presence of Mu Qingqing and Wen Nie adds further tension, as they view Ming Yan with increasing suspicion. Ming Yan must balance her desire to absorb Chu Xuanqing’s cultivation with the need to avoid direct conflict with the novel’s protagonists. The sealed gates between the upper and lower realms continue to prevent Chu Xuanqing’s ascension, fueling his growing resentment. Ming Yan realizes that the original plot is deviating due to her interference, creating uncertainty about her ultimate fate. She must adapt to these changes while maintaining her cover as a loving wife, all while waiting for the moment when Chu Xuanqing’s desperation might finally lead him to kill her.