The Demon's Promise: Lingbi's Despair

In the heart of the ancient land of Ling, nestled between the towering mountains and the whispering rivers, there lay a village that time seemed to have forgotten. The villagers spoke in hushed tones of the Demon's Promise, a legend that had been whispered through generations. It was said that a demon prince, with eyes as dark as the night and a heart as cold as the mountains, had once made a promise to a mortal woman, Lingbi, that he would protect her and grant her any wish.

Lingbi was a beauty, not just in appearance but in spirit as well. Her heart was pure, and her love was as deep as the ocean. She was the daughter of the village elder, a wise and respected man who had always kept the village safe from the dangers that lurked in the shadows. But Lingbi's heart belonged to the demon prince, a creature of darkness and light, whose touch could either heal or destroy.

One moonlit night, as the stars twinkled above, Lingbi met the demon prince in the ancient forest. His presence was as overwhelming as the storm clouds that occasionally gathered over the mountains. He spoke in a voice that was both soothing and terrifying, promising her a life of love and power beyond her wildest dreams.

"You will be mine, Lingbi," he said, his fingers brushing against her cheek. "Together, we will rule the world."

But the world was not as simple as the demon prince made it seem. The villagers were wary of his intentions, and the elder had always warned them of the dangers of crossing the line between the living and the dead. Despite this, Lingbi's love was as strong as the mountains that surrounded her village.

The demon prince, with his supernatural powers, began to weave his influence over the village. He healed the sick, brought rain to the barren fields, and even saved the lives of the villagers during a fierce storm. The people began to see him as a god, and Lingbi's name was on everyone's lips.

But as the days turned into weeks, the demon prince's true nature began to show. His touch became more demanding, his promises more elusive. He revealed to Lingbi that he had a dark past, one that he could not escape. He had been cursed by an ancient sorcerer to live in the shadows, and he could only break the curse by uniting with a mortal woman who loved him with all her heart.

Lingbi, torn between her love for the demon prince and her duty to her village, sought counsel from the elder. The elder, a man of great wisdom, saw the danger that lay ahead and knew that he must act swiftly.

"You must choose, Lingbi," he said, his voice heavy with sorrow. "Your love for him will bring either great joy or great sorrow to this village."

Lingbi knew that she could not live with the demon prince's curse hanging over her village. She turned to him and spoke the words that would change her life forever.

"I love you, but I cannot live with the burden you carry. I must choose the village."

The demon prince's eyes filled with pain, but he understood. He granted Lingbi her wish, but it was not the one she had asked for.

"I wish for you to be free from my curse," he said, his voice breaking. "I will leave you and the village to live your lives in peace."

With a final, sorrowful glance, the demon prince vanished into the night. The villagers, who had once worshipped him, were left in shock. They had seen the true nature of the demon prince, and they were grateful for his departure.

Lingbi, however, was not free from her love for the demon prince. She spent the remainder of her days in a state of despair, her heart heavy with the burden of her choice. She longed for the demon prince's touch, the warmth of his embrace, and the promise of a life together.

One night, as she sat by the river, watching the stars reflect on the water's surface, she felt a presence beside her. It was the demon prince, returned to her in a vision.

"I am here, Lingbi," he said, his voice as gentle as the wind. "I have broken the curse, and now I can be with you."

Lingbi's eyes filled with tears of joy and sorrow. She knew that her choice had been the right one, but she also knew that she would never be the same.

"I love you, but I must stay here," she said, her voice trembling. "The village needs me."

The demon prince nodded, understanding her love for the village. "Then I will stay with you, as a spirit, to watch over you and the village."

And so, the demon prince became a guardian spirit to the village of Ling, his love for Lingbi never fading. The villagers, who had once feared him, now revered him as a protector. And Lingbi, though her heart was heavy, found solace in the knowledge that she had made the right choice.

The legend of the Demon's Promise and Lingbi's Despair lived on, a tale of love, sacrifice, and the eternal bond between a mortal woman and a demon prince.