Evan Chu's figure flickered as he shot forward, and when he arrived, something completely unexpected appeared before his eyes.
He saw a person—no, a woman. She was enchantingly beautiful, her clothes sheer and suggestive, stirring endless wild thoughts.
Running into a woman in the Sea Dragon Forbidden Land was a shock for Evan Chu, especially one so alluring. Yet she radiated no energy at all, as if she were just an ordinary person.
The mysterious woman stood with her back to Evan Chu, hiding her face. But her silhouette alone spelled out breathtaking beauty. Anyone who could appear in such a deadly place was definitely no ordinary person—Evan Chu even suspected she might be a heart devil given form.
Evan Chu was on full alert—in a place like this, caution was everything. Just then, the woman slowly turned around, revealing a face of stunning beauty.
The instant Evan Chu saw her face, his heart skipped a beat and he instinctively stepped back—because it was a face he knew all too well. It was Princess Serena Hua.
But Evan Chu was certain this woman couldn’t be Princess Serena Hua. She couldn’t possibly appear in the Sea Regions—unless, like him, she’d entered a spatial black hole. But with her strength, that was impossible.
Evan Chu said nothing, but the woman spoke first: "Lin Feng, we finally meet again. Are you surprised? Isn’t it unbelievable to see me here? Did you miss me?"
Her voice was impossibly gentle, like a lover whispering sweet words. But hearing this made Evan Chu’s scalp tingle—the whole thing was so bizarre, he couldn’t tell real from fake.
"Who are you, really? Why are you here?" Lin Feng asked, suspicion in his voice. Since she hadn’t attacked, he saw no need to strike first—especially since she looked exactly like Princess Serena Hua.
Even if she wasn’t Princess Serena Hua, the tangled threads between them ran deep. Evan Chu had to get to the truth before making a move.
"You really don’t remember me? I’m Serena! How could you forget me? I’ve waited here for you—waited so, so long! Now you’re finally here, but you treat me like this..." As she spoke, tears streamed down her face.
Evan Chu grew more and more confused—this was impossible. He vaguely sensed this woman was a heart devil, one that had already taken on flesh.
Heart devils are born from the darkness and greed in one’s heart, becoming formless desires—like how resentment breeds wraiths, desire breeds heart devils.
When countless people die with desires still burning inside, those desires can eventually become real heart devils, condensing into flesh. Evan Chu didn’t know all this yet, but suspicion was already creeping into his mind.
Women’s tears were Evan Chu’s greatest weakness—especially when the woman wore Princess Serena Hua’s face. He just couldn’t figure out why she looked like Serena. Had she met Serena? Or had Serena already ascended to the God Realm?
"Let’s not beat around the bush—who are you, really? Serena can't possibly appear in the Sea Dragon Forbidden Land. If I'm right, you’re a heart devil! We have no grudge, so why make things hard for me? I came here for Ghostshade Herb, not to hurt you." Lin Feng’s tone was serious.
Saying he didn’t want to hurt her was half a lie—if she tried anything, Evan Chu wouldn’t hesitate to kill her. But he had no real confidence; anyone who could hide their power so well was no ordinary weakling.
"I am Serena—the Serena you’ve missed all this time. Don’t tell me you feel nothing for me? Or are you just afraid I’ll want revenge once I know your true identity?
Actually, I’ve known your identity for ages. But I fell in love with you, so I kept it hidden deep in my heart. Not long after you ascended to the God Realm, I did too. I just don’t know why I ended up here."
"I want to leave, but I’m powerless—trapped here with no escape. I never thought you’d really appear. I was so happy, but now you say you don’t know me. Do you have any idea how much that hurts?" The woman sobbed even harder.
The more Evan Chu listened, the more bewildered he became. Her words sounded so real, he began to doubt his own judgment—was she really Serena, or not?
"Don’t cry. Just showing up here is strange enough—the Sea Regions’ space is basically unbreakable, so of course I’m suspicious. Plus, the Sea Dragon Forbidden Land breeds heart devils, yet you’re perfectly fine. Anyone would be skeptical." Lin Feng said.
"After all this, you still don’t believe me? What’s the point of living, then? I might as well die and spare myself the pain!" the woman choked out between sobs.
Evan Chu kept a sliver of clarity—even if she really was Serena, he had to stay on guard. Who knew if she’d already fallen to a heart devil? Caution was essential; his mission was vital, and Elena Rainveil and Roxanne were still waiting for him to save them.
He still didn’t know what had happened to Lena Zhong, Selena, and Lynn after they ascended to the God Realm. Monica and Lynn Ling were proof—he was sure those two hadn’t had it easy either.
Suddenly, the woman produced a longsword and slashed it toward her own neck. If she really went through with it, she’d be gone in an instant.
Evan Chu was standing close and hadn’t expected such extremity. Without hesitation, he lunged forward and snatched the sword from her hand. "Why are you so foolish? Life is precious—how could you throw it away so easily?"
"I just want you to suffer—to feel guilty for a lifetime. Only then will you never forget me. Otherwise, your heart will always be with Lena Zhong and Lynn Ling." The woman looked at Evan Chu, tears streaming down her face.
Evan Chu felt his head spinning—this bizarre encounter left him helpless. He didn’t know whether to believe her. If she really was Serena, then he was being far too cruel.
But if she wasn’t Serena, then she was truly terrifying—she knew so much about him. Evan Chu was left baffled and troubled, unable to decide what to say next…