I Could Never Pity a Demon

Liu Shuang is a celestial grass spirit from the mortal realm who took human form after absorbing the blood of a dying ghost cultivator. She is the wife of Yan Chaosheng, the Demon Lord who rules both the Demon Realm and the Ghost Realm. Their marriage is unconventional; Yan Chaosheng is a fierce warrior who spends most of his time battling the immortal clans, leaving Liu Shuang alone in the oppressive Ghost Realm for long periods. Despite the harsh environment that slowly erodes her immortal body, Liu Shuang remains devoted to her husband, waiting for his return and nurturing a small garden in their palace courtyard to bring color to the bleak surroundings.

Yan Chaosheng is cold and stern, rarely showing emotion, yet he tolerates Liu Shuang’s clinginess and provides her with spiritual protection. Liu Shuang’s true form is vulnerable in the Ghost Realm, and she relies on dual cultivation with her husband to survive and progress in her cultivation. She cherishes every moment they spend together, often waiting for him at Qingcang Mountain, the entrance to the Ghost Realm, so he can see her first upon his return. Her only companion is Changhuan, a ghost cultivator she raised, and she maintains a respectful distance from the political intrigues of the realm.

The central conflict emerges when Liu Shuang notices cracks forming in a twin fish jade pendant given to her by her mentor, Shao You, before he left. The pendant serves as a warning: if it remains intact, she should stay with Yan Chaosheng; if it cracks, she must leave immediately. Disturbed by the cracks and Yan Chaosheng’s increasing absence, Liu Shuang becomes suspicious of a forbidden palace called Xiangze Palace, where Yan Chaosheng has been secretly staying. She learns from rumors that Yan Chaosheng once had a deep relationship with a female immortal named Mi Chu, who nearly became his fiancée before entering the Heavenly Palace as the Heavenly Emperor’s consort.

Liu Shuang confronts Yan Chaosheng after trespassing into the forbidden area, but he rebukes her harshly. Later, Su Lun, Yan Chaosheng’s trusted advisor, explains that the person in Xiangze Palace is the descendant of a benefactor who helped Yan Chaosheng in his youth, and that this person is being hunted by the Heavenly Realm. Liu Shuang accepts this explanation and feels ashamed of her suspicions. However, her peace is shattered when Feng Fuming, the Heavenly Lord, attacks the Ghost Realm, claiming to act on behalf of Celestial Consort Mi Chu. During the chaos, Yan Chaosheng abandons Liu Shuang on the street to rush to Mi Chu’s aid, leaving her vulnerable to attack by other ghost cultivators.

Rescued by Su Lun, Liu Shuang overhears demons discussing Yan Chaosheng’s devotion to Mi Chu and his efforts to save her life. She realizes that Yan Chaosheng has never loved her and that their marriage was merely a distraction for him. Heartbroken but determined, she waits for Yan Chaosheng to return, hoping for an explanation. Instead, she faces a Yin Year storm, a rare and deadly event in the Ghost Realm, which destroys her garden and corrodes her body. Yan Chaosheng rescues her but scolds her for risking her life, revealing his anger and possessiveness.

The story concludes with Liu Shuang questioning her place in Yan Chaosheng’s heart and the Ghost Realm. She recognizes that her love has consumed her vitality and that she is merely a temporary comfort for a ruler who still pines for another. The cracks in the jade pendant deepen, signaling the end of her marriage. Liu Shuang must decide whether to continue clinging to a love that does not reciprocate or to leave the Ghost Realm and return to her origins in the mortal world.