For the spirit he sees in the Yiling Patriarch's eyes, he will submit. He is soothed, somewhat, that this demon lord doesn't rip his fingers off or make the collar grow spikes. In fact, as far as collars go, the one fastened around his neck isn't uncomfortable. He can breathe and he realizes he can remove it if necessary.

This is a game.

"I am not a demon." so that begs the question: can he eat the food safely? What will become of him if he does?

"Why is my memory blank?" he asks that question quietly, pressing his lips together in frustration, "I am not where I should be." and so his memory has been removed as a safeguard?