A fight between Wen Renye and He Sorshi was truly a fight between Immortals.
The river water swirled around and trembled, the evil spirits cut by the knife energy had been annihilated or becoming formless. The pitch-black knife’s cutting edge was unpleasant to the eyes, exuding a dense devilish energy along the blade that rushed forward.
The ghostly cultivators’ bodies were cold and eerie.
The knife in Wenren Ye’s hand tangled with the whip in the hand of He Sorshi. After that, the knife cutting along the black whip made a cold light which burst out like sparks. As a result, the entire River of the Dead was surging and then scattered, and was stirred by the devilish energy that swept and invaded it.
The sky was dim, and the ground began to crack open with cracks several meters wide, it was made by knife energy. The crazy tremor of the giant chain and the scream of the ghost spirits, resounded throughout the Netherworld.
Wenren Ye was just too skilled at fighting.
Here it was the Netherworld and it was He Sorshi’s realm, and it was not known how long He Sorshi had lived for, even though he had been locked down by these giant iron chains, but it was just that he was unable to leave, and not that he was unable to fight.
He Sorshi was being held by four iron chains, which were restricting his four limbs. One of them had a deep groove as if it had been sliced, shaking violently in the hopes that it may snap apart. That slice was made by the swipe of Jiang Zheliu’s sword, back when he was rescuing Jin Yujie from the river. He had split the river in two, slicing into the chains, almost unsuspectingly breaking one of the chains.
Shi Binghen was completely immersed in his Devil Lord’s fight, he was so excited that he almost grab ahold of Jiang Zheliu’s shoulder, but seeing that the latter was like a flimsy sheet of paper, at the critical moment, he held himself back, and instead fiercely slapped his own thigh: “That’s amazing! You’re so fierce! He was so arrogant but he’s still getting owned by our Devil Lord!”
Jiang Zheliu watched the amount of power that Shi Binghen had used to slap his own thigh and thought that if he’d have taken such a slap, they’d need to get his coffin ready.
Just before when Wenren Ye had split the horse carriage in half, although he had ruffled the devil horse’s mane, he had not injured the two little demons. Ah-Chu had never seen such an exciting event before and he was completely stupified by the fighting style that he saw before him. It was Chang Qian who fished out a thick fur cloak from the spiritual storage device and put it over Jiang Zheliu’s shoulders.
A half-demon half-devil’s scent is quite evident, and Shi Binghen noticed it immediately, he looked at Chang Qian with curiosity. He thought that this kind of mixed blood was quite uncommon. Although the elder brother of his Devil Lord had died long ago, he was very productive, with his first wife, he produced a little master called Wenren Xi and then after his first wife died, he found a second spouse who was a snake demon.
The Devil Realm’s customs were very simple, whoever was the best at fighting could get married, no matter whether it was a male or female, it was just that there was a significant difference in strength, the majority of the best fighters were mainly male. They also had a very strong notion of being faithful unto death, no matter if it was a male or female, visiting a prost*tute was strictly frowned upon, not to mention marrying a second spouse.
Chang Qian’s father was a devil who had been judged severely in the Devil Realm.
Because of these two customs of enjoying battle and faithfulness to their spouse, there was never much growth in the population in the Devil Realm. Birth rate and death rate were relatively level. They were maintained in a state where each individual was fierce and frightening, but their numbers were unable to reproduce quickly.
Chang Qian was breaking out in a cold sweat due to this devil in red fixating on him, but being close to Jiang Zheliu made him less afraid. He reached out to straighten out Jiang Zheliu’s cloak, and looked at his shenxian gege for a while, who seemed to be exhausted, feeling a little sorry for him, he asked quietly: “Gege, are you cold?”
Jiang Zheliu shook his head, he was so tired but he didn’t dare to sleep, his gaze was on the fight the whole time, unable to look or think about anything else.
Shi Binghen who was also beside Jiang Zheliu had taken this Devil Queen’s safety with extreme prudence, but he also couldn’t help himself coming out with: “What’s this? That’s it? Is that it? This guy wants to fight with our Devil Lord? He really just needs a good spanking……”
He was garrulous for quite some time, but this actually seemed to help Jiang Zheliu gather his thoughts, the latter grabbed Shi Binghen’s hand and said: “Ask Wenren Ye to come back.”
Shi Binghen stared at his own hand which had been grabbed by Jiang Zheliu, and said blankly: “Sister-in-law….. That.. that… doesn’t seem to be a good idea…”
His brain had already gravitated towards the consequences of eloping with the Devil Queen, if it wasn’t for the Devil Lord bestowing great kindness and favour1 upon him, he might have actually really considered it.
This hand was icy cold and slender, the fingers particularly delicate. Upon this frosty hand was faintly visible colour and veins, the fingernails were completely devoid of colour, his hand was smooth and glossy as if it had been carved from jade, and this jade was so expensive that it was not possible to even touch it once.
He raised his other hand and with much propriety extremely carefully lifted up the sleeve of Jiang Zheliu, he swallowed down his saliva, and said: “Why should we call him back, it’s not like our Devil Lord can’t take this old ghost.”
“If they keep fighting,” Jiang Zheliu frowned, “The iron chains will break.”
It was only until now that he finally understood the big picture. Zhu Wuxin had struck up a deal with He Sorshi for various reasons, but this cunning old fox, He Sorshi was unable to fully exhibit his ghostly cultivation with this kind of method. He must have known about the relationship between Jiang Zheliu and Wenren Ye, and his ultimate goal had always been to have his chains broken.
He had purposefully left the scent of the River of the Dead upon the Pure Flame Pearl, and everything he had said to Jiang Zheliu previously was just an act, on the surface he had made it out that Zhu Wuxin was extremely important to him, but it was actually to conceal his true motive…. Provided that Jiang Zheliu did not immediately kill Zhu Wuxin, whether it was to use him to threaten him or there was something else planned, all that could easily infuriate Wenren Ye.
Back then when he could wield a sword, he could have easily broken the iron chains, so wouldn’t it be even easier for the little devil to do it now?
Jiang Zheliu had been thinking for a long while since He Sorshi decided to reveal himself, the latter could have easily submerged himself into the depths of the River of the Dead without revealing himself, so why did he decide to come out and fight Wenren Ye, this didn’t seem to be the actions…… nor the style of a Ghostly cultivator.
Jiang Zheliu had only said one sentence but Shi Binghen immediately understood the repercussions and the gravity of the situation, he used his devilish energy, and used a transmitting sound method, to speak directly into Wenren Ye’s ears: “Devil Lord! The Devil Queen said stop fighting!”
The way he was trying to call him back was completely useless, once a devil had begun to fight it was almost impossible to get them to stop, even if it was Wenren Ye, even the great devils who were fighting with the evil spirits around them had also slowly begun to almost transform fully into their devilish form, so fierce if it was as if they wanted to destroy the world.
Shi Binghen didn’t know what to do, he turned around and looked at Jiang Zheliu again, he suddenly came up with an idea, and transmitted another message: “Devil Lord, Jiang Xianzun said he wants to go back and sleep with you!”
The ink black knife seemed to pause for a moment.
Wenren Ye slowly opened and closed his bone wings a few times, the long spikes that were growing between his finger bones when met with the long whip of He Sorshi made a crunching sound.
The armour over his face began to disappear, his breath began to grow hotter, and he suddenly let go of the black iron whip.
Shi Binghen, seeing some progress, added: “Jiang Xianzun said he’s tired! He wants you to carry him back to the Devil Realm!”
This kind of sound transmission was for a specific recipient. Jiang Zheliu couldn’t hear the content. He could only see Shi Binghen’s mouth. He frowned and pondered, and couldn’t help asking, “What are you saying?”
The devil in red reached out again, he wanted to pat Jiang Zheliu on the shoulder, but after seeing this person with a fur coat draped over him and his snow white hair, he immediately once again retracted his hand, and instead guaranteed: “Fu-ren2 don’t worry, I’ll definitely get my Devil Lord to come back.”
He turned his head around, and sent a message to deliver a critical hit to the system: “Devil Lord quickly come back, Jiang Xianzun said that if you don’t come back over now he will run off with another devil……”
This sentence had not even finished when the fierce and vicious black knife suddenly stopped in mid-air. Wenren Ye’s giant bone wings behind him also slowly started to tremble. Just at that moment when he was getting the most fired up in the fight, He Sorshi saw that devil in front of him retreat and retract his knife.
……？Even his devilish form has been revealed now, how come…….
He Sorshi had not fully grasped the situation when he saw that Wenren Ye had already retreated entirely and quickly dropped back beside Jiang Zheliu and had suddenly picked up that snow-white haired useless Xianzun in his arms.
In the next moment, that dauntless and peerless devil actually got up close to the white haired Jiang Zheliu and whispered with much grievance: “Who do you want to leave with?”
He Sorshi was completely flabbergasted, he glanced over his chains which had received several blows from the ink black knife, he softly trembled, out of his four chains, two had been broken.
Such a shame. How did Jiang Zheliu get this devil to stop. He Sorshi stroked his chin and his eyes narrowed, as his curiosity grew.
Jiang Zheliu had no idea what Shi Binghen had said to get Wenren Ye to stop, he was feeling breathless being embraced so tightly by Wenren Ye, and he was also be inquired upon by the little devil, every word sounded like a married man who was worried about his beautiful wife looking elsewhere.
Wenren Ye was still fully in the state of battle, his blood was still running hot, the temperature between their two bodies was incredibly different, Jiang Zheliu felt that the other was like an oven.
“I couldn’t find you.” Wenren Ye whispered, “Dan Xin Monastery, Zhongnan Mountain, but I still couldn’t find you, you weren’t at Wan Ling Palace, I…..”
He paused for a moment, as if the words had got stuck in his throat, his purple eyes fixated on Jiang Zheliu, without blinking. His eyes were glowing and his emotions were running high.
“I was afraid I wouldn’t find you.”
The Devil Lord who had almost overturned the world to fight with the Ghost Lord just now, was now embracing him as if he was a little abandoned puppy.
Wenren Ye only had him in his sights, and would only submit to this person, he was completely in a state of doubt and panic-stricken, hovering over Jiang Zheliu, it was even more intense than his aura when in battle.
He stuck to Jiang Zheliu’s ear, the volume of his voice dropped extremely low, his breath was burning hot: “I’m afraid, don’t scare me again.”
Jiang Zheliu knew that at this time whatever reasoning he tried to explain, Wenren Ye would not be able to accept at this moment, so he decided not to bother explaining about He Sorshi’s plan. He looked into the little devil’s purple eyes, slightly raising his head, and placed his ice cold lips against Wenren Ye’s lips and whispered: “Stop fighting, let’s go home.”
If he had to give a reason.
“I’m too tired.” Jiang Zheliu, “Watching you made me sleepy.”
This ice-cold kiss was like a crash to the system for Wenren Ye, all of the panic, all of the fighting intent, was completely frozen over by this one kiss, and his body temperature dropped back down, and all that was left was what the other had just said.
For Wenren Ye, this reason was enough.
He stared blankly for a moment, then gripped Jiang Zheliu’s hand and nodded: “Ok.”
The Devil Lord picked him up, whilst the bone armour all of his body completely disappeared, and he had turned back into his human form. He reached out with one hand to straighten the fur cloak on the other’s body and whispered: “Sleep.”
He spoke calmly and unhurriedly. Next to him, Shi Binghen listened to this conversation with curiosity. He looked steadily at the back of the Devil Lord leaving the Netherworld with the Devil Queen, he clicked his tongue, and whispered, “It’s amazing to have someone to hold.”
It really was amazing.
Shi Binghen turned to glance at the seven or eight lonely devils who were still fighting next to him, and resignedly picked up two little demons who couldn’t react, and followed his Devil Lord to leave.
————
This war that had shaken all the realms finally came to an end.
Jiang Zheliu was really exhausted, he had already fallen asleep in the little devil’s arms, he didn’t know how long he had slept when he awoke, but it seemed to be the safest time he had fallen asleep recently.
As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw the familiar furnishings of Zhongnan Mountain, the sound of boiling medicine furnaces gurgling and the bubbles popping one after another.
The wind chimes under the eaves were moving softly, making a faint ringing noise. It was snowing outside.
The furnace was lit and it was warm. Ah-Chu stood by the table sorting out the medicine, Chang Qian was lighting the lanterns, half of the light was coming from the candles in the swaying lanterns, and the other was from the bright moonlight.
It was a windy and snowy night in the mountains.
Jiang Zheliu began to feel more relaxed, and finally found a trace of the feeling that he was in his retirement. He looked at the moonlight that shone over the corner of the bed for a while, then lifted the quilt, his toes still not touching the bed. He was held by his ankle with one hand.
The other man’s hands were long and wide, the size of a grown man. It could easily wrap around his slim ankle bones. The palm is warm, calm and slightly warm against his cold skin.
Jiang Zheliu only just realised that he was sitting at the side of the bed.
“Where are you going.”
The little devil’s voice lowered: “It’s so cold, get back under the covers.”
Jiang Zheliu said: “I want to see if the plum flowers have blossomed.”
“The plum blossoms of Zhongnan Mountain will blossom for half a year, is it worth going back to take a look?” Wenren Ye frowned anxiously, his handsome face exhibiting an expression of disapproval, “Could you just humour me, you’ve only just recovered slightly, you….”
He paused, then said: “You’re not allowed to go.”
Not bad, his imposing manner was very strong, the appearance of his authority was in place.
Jiang Zheliu looked over towards the window, and then looked down at the claw which was grasping his ankle, he tried to explain gently: “You don’t need to worry, I will dress warmly.”
The implication was that he will make sure he won’t freeze.
Jiang Zheliu had always upheld his word, since he said that he would definitely take care of himself, not to mention… he didn’t want to die at all now. He couldn’t bear the idea of leaving the little devil by himself in this world, to the little devil this was truly the cruelest thing.
……. At least, let me accompany him a little longer.
Wenren Ye did not let go and put Jiang Zheliu back on the bed, every word filled with contradiction: “No way, it’s snowing outside.”
Jiang Zheliu said: “But….”
“I’ve already seen it, the plum flowers have blossomed.”
Jiang Zheliu lightly knitted his brows: “Well…..”
“Don’t act wilful with me.”
Jiang Zheliu: “……”
It’s hard to refute a devil who has already made up his mind.
He sighed and said: “I’m not.”
Jiang Zheliu had been cultivating for over a thousand years, he actually didn’t know what acting wilful was like.
Wenren Ye silently continued to stare at him.
Jiang Zheliu’s robes were all light in colour, at this moment, his snow white hair was spread all over the bed, his hairpin had been removed. He had been injured in the Netherworld, so his body was really reliant on the resurrection stone, and after eating the colourless spiritual stone, he began to slowly recover again.
Jiang Zheliu was faced with this Devil Lord’s fierce obstruction, he sat on the soft bed for a while whilst thinking, then looked up to face Wenren for a while and tentatively asked: “Well, will you accompany me there?”
Wenren Ye cruel refusals were suddenly stuck in his throat for a moment.
He gazed into the other’s eyes, and was met with these dark eyes. These eyes did not reflect any light, but they carried an inherent, indifferent and icy beauty.
It was as if he was in front of a handful of melting ice.
Wenren Ye’s throat moved slightly, but he maintained his principles with strong self-control: “No, the weather in Zhongnan Mountain is very cold. For the moment, don’t even think about walking about …”
His words paused slightly, his mind and willpower was repeatedly trying to break down. When the words reached this point, he suddenly fell silent, and then he finally said, “…I will carry you.”
Jiang Zheliu was silent for a while, feeling as if he was disabled, and he reluctantly compromised: “Okay.”
The candle’s flame crackled.
Outside the small pinehouse in the shadow of the light, Shi Binghen dressed in red leaned against the back door, shoulders and sleeves were covered with snow, but he did not care. He turned his eyes to look at the companion next to him, whilst listening against the wall, he said: “Listen, can this be considered progress? Is this really for the sake of learning how to forcefully take what you want by any means possible that we need to create a special class?”
The last-minute teacher who had to return to teach the class, was left at Zhongnan Mountain for reference and to inspect and study, nodded in agreement and said anxiously: “What can we say to make the Lord sound more powerful?”
Shi Binghen held himself in his arms and looked up at the sky. His eyelashes were completely covered by the falling snow. He looked at the night sky in the distance for a while and said absently, “As long as they are really in love with each other, those things aren’t so important.”
A fight between Wen Renye and He Sorshi was truly a fight between Immortals.
The river water swirled around and trembled, the evil spirits cut by the knife energy had been annihilated or becoming formless. The pitch-black knife’s cutting edge was unpleasant to the eyes, exuding a dense devilish energy along the blade that rushed forward.
The ghostly cultivators’ bodies were cold and eerie.
The knife in Wenren Ye’s hand tangled with the whip in the hand of He Sorshi. After that, the knife cutting along the black whip made a cold light which burst out like sparks. As a result, the entire River of the Dead was surging and then scattered, and was stirred by the devilish energy that swept and invaded it.
The sky was dim, and the ground began to crack open with cracks several meters wide, it was made by knife energy. The crazy tremor of the giant chain and the scream of the ghost spirits, resounded throughout the Netherworld.
Wenren Ye was just too skilled at fighting.
Here it was the Netherworld and it was He Sorshi’s realm, and it was not known how long He Sorshi had lived for, even though he had been locked down by these giant iron chains, but it was just that he was unable to leave, and not that he was unable to fight.
He Sorshi was being held by four iron chains, which were restricting his four limbs. One of them had a deep groove as if it had been sliced, shaking violently in the hopes that it may snap apart. That slice was made by the swipe of Jiang Zheliu’s sword, back when he was rescuing Jin Yujie from the river. He had split the river in two, slicing into the chains, almost unsuspectingly breaking one of the chains.
Shi Binghen was completely immersed in his Devil Lord’s fight, he was so excited that he almost grab ahold of Jiang Zheliu’s shoulder, but seeing that the latter was like a flimsy sheet of paper, at the critical moment, he held himself back, and instead fiercely slapped his own thigh: “That’s amazing! You’re so fierce! He was so arrogant but he’s still getting owned by our Devil Lord!”
Jiang Zheliu watched the amount of power that Shi Binghen had used to slap his own thigh and thought that if he’d have taken such a slap, they’d need to get his coffin ready.
Just before when Wenren Ye had split the horse carriage in half, although he had ruffled the devil horse’s mane, he had not injured the two little demons. Ah-Chu had never seen such an exciting event before and he was completely stupified by the fighting style that he saw before him. It was Chang Qian who fished out a thick fur cloak from the spiritual storage device and put it over Jiang Zheliu’s shoulders.
A half-demon half-devil’s scent is quite evident, and Shi Binghen noticed it immediately, he looked at Chang Qian with curiosity. He thought that this kind of mixed blood was quite uncommon. Although the elder brother of his Devil Lord had died long ago, he was very productive, with his first wife, he produced a little master called Wenren Xi and then after his first wife died, he found a second spouse who was a snake demon.
The Devil Realm’s customs were very simple, whoever was the best at fighting could get married, no matter whether it was a male or female, it was just that there was a significant difference in strength, the majority of the best fighters were mainly male. They also had a very strong notion of being faithful unto death, no matter if it was a male or female, visiting a prost*tute was strictly frowned upon, not to mention marrying a second spouse.
Chang Qian’s father was a devil who had been judged severely in the Devil Realm.
Because of these two customs of enjoying battle and faithfulness to their spouse, there was never much growth in the population in the Devil Realm. Birth rate and death rate were relatively level. They were maintained in a state where each individual was fierce and frightening, but their numbers were unable to reproduce quickly.
Chang Qian was breaking out in a cold sweat due to this devil in red fixating on him, but being close to Jiang Zheliu made him less afraid. He reached out to straighten out Jiang Zheliu’s cloak, and looked at his shenxian gege for a while, who seemed to be exhausted, feeling a little sorry for him, he asked quietly: “Gege, are you cold?”
Jiang Zheliu shook his head, he was so tired but he didn’t dare to sleep, his gaze was on the fight the whole time, unable to look or think about anything else.
Shi Binghen who was also beside Jiang Zheliu had taken this Devil Queen’s safety with extreme prudence, but he also couldn’t help himself coming out with: “What’s this? That’s it? Is that it? This guy wants to fight with our Devil Lord? He really just needs a good spanking……”
He was garrulous for quite some time, but this actually seemed to help Jiang Zheliu gather his thoughts, the latter grabbed Shi Binghen’s hand and said: “Ask Wenren Ye to come back.”
Shi Binghen stared at his own hand which had been grabbed by Jiang Zheliu, and said blankly: “Sister-in-law….. That.. that… doesn’t seem to be a good idea…”
His brain had already gravitated towards the consequences of eloping with the Devil Queen, if it wasn’t for the Devil Lord bestowing great kindness and favour1 upon him, he might have actually really considered it.
This hand was icy cold and slender, the fingers particularly delicate. Upon this frosty hand was faintly visible colour and veins, the fingernails were completely devoid of colour, his hand was smooth and glossy as if it had been carved from jade, and this jade was so expensive that it was not possible to even touch it once.
He raised his other hand and with much propriety extremely carefully lifted up the sleeve of Jiang Zheliu, he swallowed down his saliva, and said: “Why should we call him back, it’s not like our Devil Lord can’t take this old ghost.”
“If they keep fighting,” Jiang Zheliu frowned, “The iron chains will break.”
It was only until now that he finally understood the big picture. Zhu Wuxin had struck up a deal with He Sorshi for various reasons, but this cunning old fox, He Sorshi was unable to fully exhibit his ghostly cultivation with this kind of method. He must have known about the relationship between Jiang Zheliu and Wenren Ye, and his ultimate goal had always been to have his chains broken.
He had purposefully left the scent of the River of the Dead upon the Pure Flame Pearl, and everything he had said to Jiang Zheliu previously was just an act, on the surface he had made it out that Zhu Wuxin was extremely important to him, but it was actually to conceal his true motive…. Provided that Jiang Zheliu did not immediately kill Zhu Wuxin, whether it was to use him to threaten him or there was something else planned, all that could easily infuriate Wenren Ye.
Back then when he could wield a sword, he could have easily broken the iron chains, so wouldn’t it be even easier for the little devil to do it now?
Jiang Zheliu had been thinking for a long while since He Sorshi decided to reveal himself, the latter could have easily submerged himself into the depths of the River of the Dead without revealing himself, so why did he decide to come out and fight Wenren Ye, this didn’t seem to be the actions…… nor the style of a Ghostly cultivator.
Jiang Zheliu had only said one sentence but Shi Binghen immediately understood the repercussions and the gravity of the situation, he used his devilish energy, and used a transmitting sound method, to speak directly into Wenren Ye’s ears: “Devil Lord! The Devil Queen said stop fighting!”
The way he was trying to call him back was completely useless, once a devil had begun to fight it was almost impossible to get them to stop, even if it was Wenren Ye, even the great devils who were fighting with the evil spirits around them had also slowly begun to almost transform fully into their devilish form, so fierce if it was as if they wanted to destroy the world.
Shi Binghen didn’t know what to do, he turned around and looked at Jiang Zheliu again, he suddenly came up with an idea, and transmitted another message: “Devil Lord, Jiang Xianzun said he wants to go back and sleep with you!”
The ink black knife seemed to pause for a moment.
Wenren Ye slowly opened and closed his bone wings a few times, the long spikes that were growing between his finger bones when met with the long whip of He Sorshi made a crunching sound.
The armour over his face began to disappear, his breath began to grow hotter, and he suddenly let go of the black iron whip.
Shi Binghen, seeing some progress, added: “Jiang Xianzun said he’s tired! He wants you to carry him back to the Devil Realm!”
This kind of sound transmission was for a specific recipient. Jiang Zheliu couldn’t hear the content. He could only see Shi Binghen’s mouth. He frowned and pondered, and couldn’t help asking, “What are you saying?”
The devil in red reached out again, he wanted to pat Jiang Zheliu on the shoulder, but after seeing this person with a fur coat draped over him and his snow white hair, he immediately once again retracted his hand, and instead guaranteed: “Fu-ren2 don’t worry, I’ll definitely get my Devil Lord to come back.”
He turned his head around, and sent a message to deliver a critical hit to the system: “Devil Lord quickly come back, Jiang Xianzun said that if you don’t come back over now he will run off with another devil……”
This sentence had not even finished when the fierce and vicious black knife suddenly stopped in mid-air. Wenren Ye’s giant bone wings behind him also slowly started to tremble. Just at that moment when he was getting the most fired up in the fight, He Sorshi saw that devil in front of him retreat and retract his knife.
……？Even his devilish form has been revealed now, how come…….
He Sorshi had not fully grasped the situation when he saw that Wenren Ye had already retreated entirely and quickly dropped back beside Jiang Zheliu and had suddenly picked up that snow-white haired useless Xianzun in his arms.
In the next moment, that dauntless and peerless devil actually got up close to the white haired Jiang Zheliu and whispered with much grievance: “Who do you want to leave with?”
He Sorshi was completely flabbergasted, he glanced over his chains which had received several blows from the ink black knife, he softly trembled, out of his four chains, two had been broken.
Such a shame. How did Jiang Zheliu get this devil to stop. He Sorshi stroked his chin and his eyes narrowed, as his curiosity grew.
Jiang Zheliu had no idea what Shi Binghen had said to get Wenren Ye to stop, he was feeling breathless being embraced so tightly by Wenren Ye, and he was also be inquired upon by the little devil, every word sounded like a married man who was worried about his beautiful wife looking elsewhere.
Wenren Ye was still fully in the state of battle, his blood was still running hot, the temperature between their two bodies was incredibly different, Jiang Zheliu felt that the other was like an oven.
“I couldn’t find you.” Wenren Ye whispered, “Dan Xin Monastery, Zhongnan Mountain, but I still couldn’t find you, you weren’t at Wan Ling Palace, I…..”
He paused for a moment, as if the words had got stuck in his throat, his purple eyes fixated on Jiang Zheliu, without blinking. His eyes were glowing and his emotions were running high.
“I was afraid I wouldn’t find you.”
The Devil Lord who had almost overturned the world to fight with the Ghost Lord just now, was now embracing him as if he was a little abandoned puppy.
Wenren Ye only had him in his sights, and would only submit to this person, he was completely in a state of doubt and panic-stricken, hovering over Jiang Zheliu, it was even more intense than his aura when in battle.
He stuck to Jiang Zheliu’s ear, the volume of his voice dropped extremely low, his breath was burning hot: “I’m afraid, don’t scare me again.”
Jiang Zheliu knew that at this time whatever reasoning he tried to explain, Wenren Ye would not be able to accept at this moment, so he decided not to bother explaining about He Sorshi’s plan. He looked into the little devil’s purple eyes, slightly raising his head, and placed his ice cold lips against Wenren Ye’s lips and whispered: “Stop fighting, let’s go home.”
If he had to give a reason.
“I’m too tired.” Jiang Zheliu, “Watching you made me sleepy.”
This ice-cold kiss was like a crash to the system for Wenren Ye, all of the panic, all of the fighting intent, was completely frozen over by this one kiss, and his body temperature dropped back down, and all that was left was what the other had just said.
For Wenren Ye, this reason was enough.
He stared blankly for a moment, then gripped Jiang Zheliu’s hand and nodded: “Ok.”
The Devil Lord picked him up, whilst the bone armour all of his body completely disappeared, and he had turned back into his human form. He reached out with one hand to straighten the fur cloak on the other’s body and whispered: “Sleep.”
He spoke calmly and unhurriedly. Next to him, Shi Binghen listened to this conversation with curiosity. He looked steadily at the back of the Devil Lord leaving the Netherworld with the Devil Queen, he clicked his tongue, and whispered, “It’s amazing to have someone to hold.”
It really was amazing.
Shi Binghen turned to glance at the seven or eight lonely devils who were still fighting next to him, and resignedly picked up two little demons who couldn’t react, and followed his Devil Lord to leave.
————
This war that had shaken all the realms finally came to an end.
Jiang Zheliu was really exhausted, he had already fallen asleep in the little devil’s arms, he didn’t know how long he had slept when he awoke, but it seemed to be the safest time he had fallen asleep recently.
As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw the familiar furnishings of Zhongnan Mountain, the sound of boiling medicine furnaces gurgling and the bubbles popping one after another.
The wind chimes under the eaves were moving softly, making a faint ringing noise. It was snowing outside.
The furnace was lit and it was warm. Ah-Chu stood by the table sorting out the medicine, Chang Qian was lighting the lanterns, half of the light was coming from the candles in the swaying lanterns, and the other was from the bright moonlight.
It was a windy and snowy night in the mountains.
Jiang Zheliu began to feel more relaxed, and finally found a trace of the feeling that he was in his retirement. He looked at the moonlight that shone over the corner of the bed for a while, then lifted the quilt, his toes still not touching the bed. He was held by his ankle with one hand.
The other man’s hands were long and wide, the size of a grown man. It could easily wrap around his slim ankle bones. The palm is warm, calm and slightly warm against his cold skin.
Jiang Zheliu only just realised that he was sitting at the side of the bed.
“Where are you going.”
The little devil’s voice lowered: “It’s so cold, get back under the covers.”
Jiang Zheliu said: “I want to see if the plum flowers have blossomed.”
“The plum blossoms of Zhongnan Mountain will blossom for half a year, is it worth going back to take a look?” Wenren Ye frowned anxiously, his handsome face exhibiting an expression of disapproval, “Could you just humour me, you’ve only just recovered slightly, you….”
He paused, then said: “You’re not allowed to go.”
Not bad, his imposing manner was very strong, the appearance of his authority was in place.
Jiang Zheliu looked over towards the window, and then looked down at the claw which was grasping his ankle, he tried to explain gently: “You don’t need to worry, I will dress warmly.”
The implication was that he will make sure he won’t freeze.
Jiang Zheliu had always upheld his word, since he said that he would definitely take care of himself, not to mention… he didn’t want to die at all now. He couldn’t bear the idea of leaving the little devil by himself in this world, to the little devil this was truly the cruelest thing.
……. At least, let me accompany him a little longer.
Wenren Ye did not let go and put Jiang Zheliu back on the bed, every word filled with contradiction: “No way, it’s snowing outside.”
Jiang Zheliu said: “But….”
“I’ve already seen it, the plum flowers have blossomed.”
Jiang Zheliu lightly knitted his brows: “Well…..”
“Don’t act wilful with me.”
Jiang Zheliu: “……”
It’s hard to refute a devil who has already made up his mind.
He sighed and said: “I’m not.”
Jiang Zheliu had been cultivating for over a thousand years, he actually didn’t know what acting wilful was like.
Wenren Ye silently continued to stare at him.
Jiang Zheliu’s robes were all light in colour, at this moment, his snow white hair was spread all over the bed, his hairpin had been removed. He had been injured in the Netherworld, so his body was really reliant on the resurrection stone, and after eating the colourless spiritual stone, he began to slowly recover again.
Jiang Zheliu was faced with this Devil Lord’s fierce obstruction, he sat on the soft bed for a while whilst thinking, then looked up to face Wenren for a while and tentatively asked: “Well, will you accompany me there?”
Wenren Ye cruel refusals were suddenly stuck in his throat for a moment.
He gazed into the other’s eyes, and was met with these dark eyes. These eyes did not reflect any light, but they carried an inherent, indifferent and icy beauty.
It was as if he was in front of a handful of melting ice.
Wenren Ye’s throat moved slightly, but he maintained his principles with strong self-control: “No, the weather in Zhongnan Mountain is very cold. For the moment, don’t even think about walking about …”
His words paused slightly, his mind and willpower was repeatedly trying to break down. When the words reached this point, he suddenly fell silent, and then he finally said, “…I will carry you.”
Jiang Zheliu was silent for a while, feeling as if he was disabled, and he reluctantly compromised: “Okay.”
The candle’s flame crackled.
Outside the small pinehouse in the shadow of the light, Shi Binghen dressed in red leaned against the back door, shoulders and sleeves were covered with snow, but he did not care. He turned his eyes to look at the companion next to him, whilst listening against the wall, he said: “Listen, can this be considered progress? Is this really for the sake of learning how to forcefully take what you want by any means possible that we need to create a special class?”
The last-minute teacher who had to return to teach the class, was left at Zhongnan Mountain for reference and to inspect and study, nodded in agreement and said anxiously: “What can we say to make the Lord sound more powerful?”
Shi Binghen held himself in his arms and looked up at the sky. His eyelashes were completely covered by the falling snow. He looked at the night sky in the distance for a while and said absently, “As long as they are really in love with each other, those things aren’t so important.”
A fight between Wen Renye and He Sorshi was truly a fight between Immortals.
The river water swirled around and trembled, the evil spirits cut by the knife energy had been annihilated or becoming formless. The pitch-black knife’s cutting edge was unpleasant to the eyes, exuding a dense devilish energy along the blade that rushed forward.
The ghostly cultivators’ bodies were cold and eerie.
The knife in Wenren Ye’s hand tangled with the whip in the hand of He Sorshi. After that, the knife cutting along the black whip made a cold light which burst out like sparks. As a result, the entire River of the Dead was surging and then scattered, and was stirred by the devilish energy that swept and invaded it.
The sky was dim, and the ground began to crack open with cracks several meters wide, it was made by knife energy. The crazy tremor of the giant chain and the scream of the ghost spirits, resounded throughout the Netherworld.
Wenren Ye was just too skilled at fighting.
Here it was the Netherworld and it was He Sorshi’s realm, and it was not known how long He Sorshi had lived for, even though he had been locked down by these giant iron chains, but it was just that he was unable to leave, and not that he was unable to fight.
He Sorshi was being held by four iron chains, which were restricting his four limbs. One of them had a deep groove as if it had been sliced, shaking violently in the hopes that it may snap apart. That slice was made by the swipe of Jiang Zheliu’s sword, back when he was rescuing Jin Yujie from the river. He had split the river in two, slicing into the chains, almost unsuspectingly breaking one of the chains.
Shi Binghen was completely immersed in his Devil Lord’s fight, he was so excited that he almost grab ahold of Jiang Zheliu’s shoulder, but seeing that the latter was like a flimsy sheet of paper, at the critical moment, he held himself back, and instead fiercely slapped his own thigh: “That’s amazing! You’re so fierce! He was so arrogant but he’s still getting owned by our Devil Lord!”
Jiang Zheliu watched the amount of power that Shi Binghen had used to slap his own thigh and thought that if he’d have taken such a slap, they’d need to get his coffin ready.
Just before when Wenren Ye had split the horse carriage in half, although he had ruffled the devil horse’s mane, he had not injured the two little demons. Ah-Chu had never seen such an exciting event before and he was completely stupified by the fighting style that he saw before him. It was Chang Qian who fished out a thick fur cloak from the spiritual storage device and put it over Jiang Zheliu’s shoulders.
A half-demon half-devil’s scent is quite evident, and Shi Binghen noticed it immediately, he looked at Chang Qian with curiosity. He thought that this kind of mixed blood was quite uncommon. Although the elder brother of his Devil Lord had died long ago, he was very productive, with his first wife, he produced a little master called Wenren Xi and then after his first wife died, he found a second spouse who was a snake demon.
The Devil Realm’s customs were very simple, whoever was the best at fighting could get married, no matter whether it was a male or female, it was just that there was a significant difference in strength, the majority of the best fighters were mainly male. They also had a very strong notion of being faithful unto death, no matter if it was a male or female, visiting a prost*tute was strictly frowned upon, not to mention marrying a second spouse.
Chang Qian’s father was a devil who had been judged severely in the Devil Realm.
Because of these two customs of enjoying battle and faithfulness to their spouse, there was never much growth in the population in the Devil Realm. Birth rate and death rate were relatively level. They were maintained in a state where each individual was fierce and frightening, but their numbers were unable to reproduce quickly.
Chang Qian was breaking out in a cold sweat due to this devil in red fixating on him, but being close to Jiang Zheliu made him less afraid. He reached out to straighten out Jiang Zheliu’s cloak, and looked at his shenxian gege for a while, who seemed to be exhausted, feeling a little sorry for him, he asked quietly: “Gege, are you cold?”
Jiang Zheliu shook his head, he was so tired but he didn’t dare to sleep, his gaze was on the fight the whole time, unable to look or think about anything else.
Shi Binghen who was also beside Jiang Zheliu had taken this Devil Queen’s safety with extreme prudence, but he also couldn’t help himself coming out with: “What’s this? That’s it? Is that it? This guy wants to fight with our Devil Lord? He really just needs a good spanking……”
He was garrulous for quite some time, but this actually seemed to help Jiang Zheliu gather his thoughts, the latter grabbed Shi Binghen’s hand and said: “Ask Wenren Ye to come back.”
Shi Binghen stared at his own hand which had been grabbed by Jiang Zheliu, and said blankly: “Sister-in-law….. That.. that… doesn’t seem to be a good idea…”
His brain had already gravitated towards the consequences of eloping with the Devil Queen, if it wasn’t for the Devil Lord bestowing great kindness and favour1 upon him, he might have actually really considered it.
This hand was icy cold and slender, the fingers particularly delicate. Upon this frosty hand was faintly visible colour and veins, the fingernails were completely devoid of colour, his hand was smooth and glossy as if it had been carved from jade, and this jade was so expensive that it was not possible to even touch it once.
He raised his other hand and with much propriety extremely carefully lifted up the sleeve of Jiang Zheliu, he swallowed down his saliva, and said: “Why should we call him back, it’s not like our Devil Lord can’t take this old ghost.”
“If they keep fighting,” Jiang Zheliu frowned, “The iron chains will break.”
It was only until now that he finally understood the big picture. Zhu Wuxin had struck up a deal with He Sorshi for various reasons, but this cunning old fox, He Sorshi was unable to fully exhibit his ghostly cultivation with this kind of method. He must have known about the relationship between Jiang Zheliu and Wenren Ye, and his ultimate goal had always been to have his chains broken.
He had purposefully left the scent of the River of the Dead upon the Pure Flame Pearl, and everything he had said to Jiang Zheliu previously was just an act, on the surface he had made it out that Zhu Wuxin was extremely important to him, but it was actually to conceal his true motive…. Provided that Jiang Zheliu did not immediately kill Zhu Wuxin, whether it was to use him to threaten him or there was something else planned, all that could easily infuriate Wenren Ye.
Back then when he could wield a sword, he could have easily broken the iron chains, so wouldn’t it be even easier for the little devil to do it now?
Jiang Zheliu had been thinking for a long while since He Sorshi decided to reveal himself, the latter could have easily submerged himself into the depths of the River of the Dead without revealing himself, so why did he decide to come out and fight Wenren Ye, this didn’t seem to be the actions…… nor the style of a Ghostly cultivator.
Jiang Zheliu had only said one sentence but Shi Binghen immediately understood the repercussions and the gravity of the situation, he used his devilish energy, and used a transmitting sound method, to speak directly into Wenren Ye’s ears: “Devil Lord! The Devil Queen said stop fighting!”
The way he was trying to call him back was completely useless, once a devil had begun to fight it was almost impossible to get them to stop, even if it was Wenren Ye, even the great devils who were fighting with the evil spirits around them had also slowly begun to almost transform fully into their devilish form, so fierce if it was as if they wanted to destroy the world.
Shi Binghen didn’t know what to do, he turned around and looked at Jiang Zheliu again, he suddenly came up with an idea, and transmitted another message: “Devil Lord, Jiang Xianzun said he wants to go back and sleep with you!”
The ink black knife seemed to pause for a moment.
Wenren Ye slowly opened and closed his bone wings a few times, the long spikes that were growing between his finger bones when met with the long whip of He Sorshi made a crunching sound.
The armour over his face began to disappear, his breath began to grow hotter, and he suddenly let go of the black iron whip.
Shi Binghen, seeing some progress, added: “Jiang Xianzun said he’s tired! He wants you to carry him back to the Devil Realm!”
This kind of sound transmission was for a specific recipient. Jiang Zheliu couldn’t hear the content. He could only see Shi Binghen’s mouth. He frowned and pondered, and couldn’t help asking, “What are you saying?”
The devil in red reached out again, he wanted to pat Jiang Zheliu on the shoulder, but after seeing this person with a fur coat draped over him and his snow white hair, he immediately once again retracted his hand, and instead guaranteed: “Fu-ren2 don’t worry, I’ll definitely get my Devil Lord to come back.”
He turned his head around, and sent a message to deliver a critical hit to the system: “Devil Lord quickly come back, Jiang Xianzun said that if you don’t come back over now he will run off with another devil……”
This sentence had not even finished when the fierce and vicious black knife suddenly stopped in mid-air. Wenren Ye’s giant bone wings behind him also slowly started to tremble. Just at that moment when he was getting the most fired up in the fight, He Sorshi saw that devil in front of him retreat and retract his knife.
……？Even his devilish form has been revealed now, how come…….
He Sorshi had not fully grasped the situation when he saw that Wenren Ye had already retreated entirely and quickly dropped back beside Jiang Zheliu and had suddenly picked up that snow-white haired useless Xianzun in his arms.
In the next moment, that dauntless and peerless devil actually got up close to the white haired Jiang Zheliu and whispered with much grievance: “Who do you want to leave with?”
He Sorshi was completely flabbergasted, he glanced over his chains which had received several blows from the ink black knife, he softly trembled, out of his four chains, two had been broken.
Such a shame. How did Jiang Zheliu get this devil to stop. He Sorshi stroked his chin and his eyes narrowed, as his curiosity grew.
Jiang Zheliu had no idea what Shi Binghen had said to get Wenren Ye to stop, he was feeling breathless being embraced so tightly by Wenren Ye, and he was also be inquired upon by the little devil, every word sounded like a married man who was worried about his beautiful wife looking elsewhere.
Wenren Ye was still fully in the state of battle, his blood was still running hot, the temperature between their two bodies was incredibly different, Jiang Zheliu felt that the other was like an oven.
“I couldn’t find you.” Wenren Ye whispered, “Dan Xin Monastery, Zhongnan Mountain, but I still couldn’t find you, you weren’t at Wan Ling Palace, I…..”
He paused for a moment, as if the words had got stuck in his throat, his purple eyes fixated on Jiang Zheliu, without blinking. His eyes were glowing and his emotions were running high.
“I was afraid I wouldn’t find you.”
The Devil Lord who had almost overturned the world to fight with the Ghost Lord just now, was now embracing him as if he was a little abandoned puppy.
Wenren Ye only had him in his sights, and would only submit to this person, he was completely in a state of doubt and panic-stricken, hovering over Jiang Zheliu, it was even more intense than his aura when in battle.
He stuck to Jiang Zheliu’s ear, the volume of his voice dropped extremely low, his breath was burning hot: “I’m afraid, don’t scare me again.”
Jiang Zheliu knew that at this time whatever reasoning he tried to explain, Wenren Ye would not be able to accept at this moment, so he decided not to bother explaining about He Sorshi’s plan. He looked into the little devil’s purple eyes, slightly raising his head, and placed his ice cold lips against Wenren Ye’s lips and whispered: “Stop fighting, let’s go home.”
If he had to give a reason.
“I’m too tired.” Jiang Zheliu, “Watching you made me sleepy.”
This ice-cold kiss was like a crash to the system for Wenren Ye, all of the panic, all of the fighting intent, was completely frozen over by this one kiss, and his body temperature dropped back down, and all that was left was what the other had just said.
For Wenren Ye, this reason was enough.
He stared blankly for a moment, then gripped Jiang Zheliu’s hand and nodded: “Ok.”
The Devil Lord picked him up, whilst the bone armour all of his body completely disappeared, and he had turned back into his human form. He reached out with one hand to straighten the fur cloak on the other’s body and whispered: “Sleep.”
He spoke calmly and unhurriedly. Next to him, Shi Binghen listened to this conversation with curiosity. He looked steadily at the back of the Devil Lord leaving the Netherworld with the Devil Queen, he clicked his tongue, and whispered, “It’s amazing to have someone to hold.”
It really was amazing.
Shi Binghen turned to glance at the seven or eight lonely devils who were still fighting next to him, and resignedly picked up two little demons who couldn’t react, and followed his Devil Lord to leave.
————
This war that had shaken all the realms finally came to an end.
Jiang Zheliu was really exhausted, he had already fallen asleep in the little devil’s arms, he didn’t know how long he had slept when he awoke, but it seemed to be the safest time he had fallen asleep recently.
As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw the familiar furnishings of Zhongnan Mountain, the sound of boiling medicine furnaces gurgling and the bubbles popping one after another.
The wind chimes under the eaves were moving softly, making a faint ringing noise. It was snowing outside.
The furnace was lit and it was warm. Ah-Chu stood by the table sorting out the medicine, Chang Qian was lighting the lanterns, half of the light was coming from the candles in the swaying lanterns, and the other was from the bright moonlight.
It was a windy and snowy night in the mountains.
Jiang Zheliu began to feel more relaxed, and finally found a trace of the feeling that he was in his retirement. He looked at the moonlight that shone over the corner of the bed for a while, then lifted the quilt, his toes still not touching the bed. He was held by his ankle with one hand.
The other man’s hands were long and wide, the size of a grown man. It could easily wrap around his slim ankle bones. The palm is warm, calm and slightly warm against his cold skin.
Jiang Zheliu only just realised that he was sitting at the side of the bed.
“Where are you going.”
The little devil’s voice lowered: “It’s so cold, get back under the covers.”
Jiang Zheliu said: “I want to see if the plum flowers have blossomed.”
“The plum blossoms of Zhongnan Mountain will blossom for half a year, is it worth going back to take a look?” Wenren Ye frowned anxiously, his handsome face exhibiting an expression of disapproval, “Could you just humour me, you’ve only just recovered slightly, you….”
He paused, then said: “You’re not allowed to go.”
Not bad, his imposing manner was very strong, the appearance of his authority was in place.
Jiang Zheliu looked over towards the window, and then looked down at the claw which was grasping his ankle, he tried to explain gently: “You don’t need to worry, I will dress warmly.”
The implication was that he will make sure he won’t freeze.
Jiang Zheliu had always upheld his word, since he said that he would definitely take care of himself, not to mention… he didn’t want to die at all now. He couldn’t bear the idea of leaving the little devil by himself in this world, to the little devil this was truly the cruelest thing.
……. At least, let me accompany him a little longer.
Wenren Ye did not let go and put Jiang Zheliu back on the bed, every word filled with contradiction: “No way, it’s snowing outside.”
Jiang Zheliu said: “But….”
“I’ve already seen it, the plum flowers have blossomed.”
Jiang Zheliu lightly knitted his brows: “Well…..”
“Don’t act wilful with me.”
Jiang Zheliu: “……”
It’s hard to refute a devil who has already made up his mind.
He sighed and said: “I’m not.”
Jiang Zheliu had been cultivating for over a thousand years, he actually didn’t know what acting wilful was like.
Wenren Ye silently continued to stare at him.
Jiang Zheliu’s robes were all light in colour, at this moment, his snow white hair was spread all over the bed, his hairpin had been removed. He had been injured in the Netherworld, so his body was really reliant on the resurrection stone, and after eating the colourless spiritual stone, he began to slowly recover again.
Jiang Zheliu was faced with this Devil Lord’s fierce obstruction, he sat on the soft bed for a while whilst thinking, then looked up to face Wenren for a while and tentatively asked: “Well, will you accompany me there?”
Wenren Ye cruel refusals were suddenly stuck in his throat for a moment.
He gazed into the other’s eyes, and was met with these dark eyes. These eyes did not reflect any light, but they carried an inherent, indifferent and icy beauty.
It was as if he was in front of a handful of melting ice.
Wenren Ye’s throat moved slightly, but he maintained his principles with strong self-control: “No, the weather in Zhongnan Mountain is very cold. For the moment, don’t even think about walking about …”
His words paused slightly, his mind and willpower was repeatedly trying to break down. When the words reached this point, he suddenly fell silent, and then he finally said, “…I will carry you.”
Jiang Zheliu was silent for a while, feeling as if he was disabled, and he reluctantly compromised: “Okay.”
The candle’s flame crackled.
Outside the small pinehouse in the shadow of the light, Shi Binghen dressed in red leaned against the back door, shoulders and sleeves were covered with snow, but he did not care. He turned his eyes to look at the companion next to him, whilst listening against the wall, he said: “Listen, can this be considered progress? Is this really for the sake of learning how to forcefully take what you want by any means possible that we need to create a special class?”
The last-minute teacher who had to return to teach the class, was left at Zhongnan Mountain for reference and to inspect and study, nodded in agreement and said anxiously: “What can we say to make the Lord sound more powerful?”
Shi Binghen held himself in his arms and looked up at the sky. His eyelashes were completely covered by the falling snow. He looked at the night sky in the distance for a while and said absently, “As long as they are really in love with each other, those things aren’t so important.”
A fight between Wen Renye and He Sorshi was truly a fight between Immortals.
The river water swirled around and trembled, the evil spirits cut by the knife energy had been annihilated or becoming formless. The pitch-black knife’s cutting edge was unpleasant to the eyes, exuding a dense devilish energy along the blade that rushed forward.
The ghostly cultivators’ bodies were cold and eerie.
The knife in Wenren Ye’s hand tangled with the whip in the hand of He Sorshi. After that, the knife cutting along the black whip made a cold light which burst out like sparks. As a result, the entire River of the Dead was surging and then scattered, and was stirred by the devilish energy that swept and invaded it.
The sky was dim, and the ground began to crack open with cracks several meters wide, it was made by knife energy. The crazy tremor of the giant chain and the scream of the ghost spirits, resounded throughout the Netherworld.
Wenren Ye was just too skilled at fighting.
Here it was the Netherworld and it was He Sorshi’s realm, and it was not known how long He Sorshi had lived for, even though he had been locked down by these giant iron chains, but it was just that he was unable to leave, and not that he was unable to fight.
He Sorshi was being held by four iron chains, which were restricting his four limbs. One of them had a deep groove as if it had been sliced, shaking violently in the hopes that it may snap apart. That slice was made by the swipe of Jiang Zheliu’s sword, back when he was rescuing Jin Yujie from the river. He had split the river in two, slicing into the chains, almost unsuspectingly breaking one of the chains.
Shi Binghen was completely immersed in his Devil Lord’s fight, he was so excited that he almost grab ahold of Jiang Zheliu’s shoulder, but seeing that the latter was like a flimsy sheet of paper, at the critical moment, he held himself back, and instead fiercely slapped his own thigh: “That’s amazing! You’re so fierce! He was so arrogant but he’s still getting owned by our Devil Lord!”
Jiang Zheliu watched the amount of power that Shi Binghen had used to slap his own thigh and thought that if he’d have taken such a slap, they’d need to get his coffin ready.
Just before when Wenren Ye had split the horse carriage in half, although he had ruffled the devil horse’s mane, he had not injured the two little demons. Ah-Chu had never seen such an exciting event before and he was completely stupified by the fighting style that he saw before him. It was Chang Qian who fished out a thick fur cloak from the spiritual storage device and put it over Jiang Zheliu’s shoulders.
A half-demon half-devil’s scent is quite evident, and Shi Binghen noticed it immediately, he looked at Chang Qian with curiosity. He thought that this kind of mixed blood was quite uncommon. Although the elder brother of his Devil Lord had died long ago, he was very productive, with his first wife, he produced a little master called Wenren Xi and then after his first wife died, he found a second spouse who was a snake demon.
The Devil Realm’s customs were very simple, whoever was the best at fighting could get married, no matter whether it was a male or female, it was just that there was a significant difference in strength, the majority of the best fighters were mainly male. They also had a very strong notion of being faithful unto death, no matter if it was a male or female, visiting a prost*tute was strictly frowned upon, not to mention marrying a second spouse.
Chang Qian’s father was a devil who had been judged severely in the Devil Realm.
Because of these two customs of enjoying battle and faithfulness to their spouse, there was never much growth in the population in the Devil Realm. Birth rate and death rate were relatively level. They were maintained in a state where each individual was fierce and frightening, but their numbers were unable to reproduce quickly.
Chang Qian was breaking out in a cold sweat due to this devil in red fixating on him, but being close to Jiang Zheliu made him less afraid. He reached out to straighten out Jiang Zheliu’s cloak, and looked at his shenxian gege for a while, who seemed to be exhausted, feeling a little sorry for him, he asked quietly: “Gege, are you cold?”
Jiang Zheliu shook his head, he was so tired but he didn’t dare to sleep, his gaze was on the fight the whole time, unable to look or think about anything else.
Shi Binghen who was also beside Jiang Zheliu had taken this Devil Queen’s safety with extreme prudence, but he also couldn’t help himself coming out with: “What’s this? That’s it? Is that it? This guy wants to fight with our Devil Lord? He really just needs a good spanking……”
He was garrulous for quite some time, but this actually seemed to help Jiang Zheliu gather his thoughts, the latter grabbed Shi Binghen’s hand and said: “Ask Wenren Ye to come back.”
Shi Binghen stared at his own hand which had been grabbed by Jiang Zheliu, and said blankly: “Sister-in-law….. That.. that… doesn’t seem to be a good idea…”
His brain had already gravitated towards the consequences of eloping with the Devil Queen, if it wasn’t for the Devil Lord bestowing great kindness and favour1 upon him, he might have actually really considered it.
This hand was icy cold and slender, the fingers particularly delicate. Upon this frosty hand was faintly visible colour and veins, the fingernails were completely devoid of colour, his hand was smooth and glossy as if it had been carved from jade, and this jade was so expensive that it was not possible to even touch it once.
He raised his other hand and with much propriety extremely carefully lifted up the sleeve of Jiang Zheliu, he swallowed down his saliva, and said: “Why should we call him back, it’s not like our Devil Lord can’t take this old ghost.”
“If they keep fighting,” Jiang Zheliu frowned, “The iron chains will break.”
It was only until now that he finally understood the big picture. Zhu Wuxin had struck up a deal with He Sorshi for various reasons, but this cunning old fox, He Sorshi was unable to fully exhibit his ghostly cultivation with this kind of method. He must have known about the relationship between Jiang Zheliu and Wenren Ye, and his ultimate goal had always been to have his chains broken.
He had purposefully left the scent of the River of the Dead upon the Pure Flame Pearl, and everything he had said to Jiang Zheliu previously was just an act, on the surface he had made it out that Zhu Wuxin was extremely important to him, but it was actually to conceal his true motive…. Provided that Jiang Zheliu did not immediately kill Zhu Wuxin, whether it was to use him to threaten him or there was something else planned, all that could easily infuriate Wenren Ye.
Back then when he could wield a sword, he could have easily broken the iron chains, so wouldn’t it be even easier for the little devil to do it now?
Jiang Zheliu had been thinking for a long while since He Sorshi decided to reveal himself, the latter could have easily submerged himself into the depths of the River of the Dead without revealing himself, so why did he decide to come out and fight Wenren Ye, this didn’t seem to be the actions…… nor the style of a Ghostly cultivator.
Jiang Zheliu had only said one sentence but Shi Binghen immediately understood the repercussions and the gravity of the situation, he used his devilish energy, and used a transmitting sound method, to speak directly into Wenren Ye’s ears: “Devil Lord! The Devil Queen said stop fighting!”
The way he was trying to call him back was completely useless, once a devil had begun to fight it was almost impossible to get them to stop, even if it was Wenren Ye, even the great devils who were fighting with the evil spirits around them had also slowly begun to almost transform fully into their devilish form, so fierce if it was as if they wanted to destroy the world.
Shi Binghen didn’t know what to do, he turned around and looked at Jiang Zheliu again, he suddenly came up with an idea, and transmitted another message: “Devil Lord, Jiang Xianzun said he wants to go back and sleep with you!”
The ink black knife seemed to pause for a moment.
Wenren Ye slowly opened and closed his bone wings a few times, the long spikes that were growing between his finger bones when met with the long whip of He Sorshi made a crunching sound.
The armour over his face began to disappear, his breath began to grow hotter, and he suddenly let go of the black iron whip.
Shi Binghen, seeing some progress, added: “Jiang Xianzun said he’s tired! He wants you to carry him back to the Devil Realm!”
This kind of sound transmission was for a specific recipient. Jiang Zheliu couldn’t hear the content. He could only see Shi Binghen’s mouth. He frowned and pondered, and couldn’t help asking, “What are you saying?”
The devil in red reached out again, he wanted to pat Jiang Zheliu on the shoulder, but after seeing this person with a fur coat draped over him and his snow white hair, he immediately once again retracted his hand, and instead guaranteed: “Fu-ren2 don’t worry, I’ll definitely get my Devil Lord to come back.”
He turned his head around, and sent a message to deliver a critical hit to the system: “Devil Lord quickly come back, Jiang Xianzun said that if you don’t come back over now he will run off with another devil……”
This sentence had not even finished when the fierce and vicious black knife suddenly stopped in mid-air. Wenren Ye’s giant bone wings behind him also slowly started to tremble. Just at that moment when he was getting the most fired up in the fight, He Sorshi saw that devil in front of him retreat and retract his knife.
……？Even his devilish form has been revealed now, how come…….
He Sorshi had not fully grasped the situation when he saw that Wenren Ye had already retreated entirely and quickly dropped back beside Jiang Zheliu and had suddenly picked up that snow-white haired useless Xianzun in his arms.
In the next moment, that dauntless and peerless devil actually got up close to the white haired Jiang Zheliu and whispered with much grievance: “Who do you want to leave with?”
He Sorshi was completely flabbergasted, he glanced over his chains which had received several blows from the ink black knife, he softly trembled, out of his four chains, two had been broken.
Such a shame. How did Jiang Zheliu get this devil to stop. He Sorshi stroked his chin and his eyes narrowed, as his curiosity grew.
Jiang Zheliu had no idea what Shi Binghen had said to get Wenren Ye to stop, he was feeling breathless being embraced so tightly by Wenren Ye, and he was also be inquired upon by the little devil, every word sounded like a married man who was worried about his beautiful wife looking elsewhere.
Wenren Ye was still fully in the state of battle, his blood was still running hot, the temperature between their two bodies was incredibly different, Jiang Zheliu felt that the other was like an oven.
“I couldn’t find you.” Wenren Ye whispered, “Dan Xin Monastery, Zhongnan Mountain, but I still couldn’t find you, you weren’t at Wan Ling Palace, I…..”
He paused for a moment, as if the words had got stuck in his throat, his purple eyes fixated on Jiang Zheliu, without blinking. His eyes were glowing and his emotions were running high.
“I was afraid I wouldn’t find you.”
The Devil Lord who had almost overturned the world to fight with the Ghost Lord just now, was now embracing him as if he was a little abandoned puppy.
Wenren Ye only had him in his sights, and would only submit to this person, he was completely in a state of doubt and panic-stricken, hovering over Jiang Zheliu, it was even more intense than his aura when in battle.
He stuck to Jiang Zheliu’s ear, the volume of his voice dropped extremely low, his breath was burning hot: “I’m afraid, don’t scare me again.”
Jiang Zheliu knew that at this time whatever reasoning he tried to explain, Wenren Ye would not be able to accept at this moment, so he decided not to bother explaining about He Sorshi’s plan. He looked into the little devil’s purple eyes, slightly raising his head, and placed his ice cold lips against Wenren Ye’s lips and whispered: “Stop fighting, let’s go home.”
If he had to give a reason.
“I’m too tired.” Jiang Zheliu, “Watching you made me sleepy.”
This ice-cold kiss was like a crash to the system for Wenren Ye, all of the panic, all of the fighting intent, was completely frozen over by this one kiss, and his body temperature dropped back down, and all that was left was what the other had just said.
For Wenren Ye, this reason was enough.
He stared blankly for a moment, then gripped Jiang Zheliu’s hand and nodded: “Ok.”
The Devil Lord picked him up, whilst the bone armour all of his body completely disappeared, and he had turned back into his human form. He reached out with one hand to straighten the fur cloak on the other’s body and whispered: “Sleep.”
He spoke calmly and unhurriedly. Next to him, Shi Binghen listened to this conversation with curiosity. He looked steadily at the back of the Devil Lord leaving the Netherworld with the Devil Queen, he clicked his tongue, and whispered, “It’s amazing to have someone to hold.”
It really was amazing.
Shi Binghen turned to glance at the seven or eight lonely devils who were still fighting next to him, and resignedly picked up two little demons who couldn’t react, and followed his Devil Lord to leave.
————
This war that had shaken all the realms finally came to an end.
Jiang Zheliu was really exhausted, he had already fallen asleep in the little devil’s arms, he didn’t know how long he had slept when he awoke, but it seemed to be the safest time he had fallen asleep recently.
As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw the familiar furnishings of Zhongnan Mountain, the sound of boiling medicine furnaces gurgling and the bubbles popping one after another.
The wind chimes under the eaves were moving softly, making a faint ringing noise. It was snowing outside.
The furnace was lit and it was warm. Ah-Chu stood by the table sorting out the medicine, Chang Qian was lighting the lanterns, half of the light was coming from the candles in the swaying lanterns, and the other was from the bright moonlight.
It was a windy and snowy night in the mountains.
Jiang Zheliu began to feel more relaxed, and finally found a trace of the feeling that he was in his retirement. He looked at the moonlight that shone over the corner of the bed for a while, then lifted the quilt, his toes still not touching the bed. He was held by his ankle with one hand.
The other man’s hands were long and wide, the size of a grown man. It could easily wrap around his slim ankle bones. The palm is warm, calm and slightly warm against his cold skin.
Jiang Zheliu only just realised that he was sitting at the side of the bed.
“Where are you going.”
The little devil’s voice lowered: “It’s so cold, get back under the covers.”
Jiang Zheliu said: “I want to see if the plum flowers have blossomed.”
“The plum blossoms of Zhongnan Mountain will blossom for half a year, is it worth going back to take a look?” Wenren Ye frowned anxiously, his handsome face exhibiting an expression of disapproval, “Could you just humour me, you’ve only just recovered slightly, you….”
He paused, then said: “You’re not allowed to go.”
Not bad, his imposing manner was very strong, the appearance of his authority was in place.
Jiang Zheliu looked over towards the window, and then looked down at the claw which was grasping his ankle, he tried to explain gently: “You don’t need to worry, I will dress warmly.”
The implication was that he will make sure he won’t freeze.
Jiang Zheliu had always upheld his word, since he said that he would definitely take care of himself, not to mention… he didn’t want to die at all now. He couldn’t bear the idea of leaving the little devil by himself in this world, to the little devil this was truly the cruelest thing.
……. At least, let me accompany him a little longer.
Wenren Ye did not let go and put Jiang Zheliu back on the bed, every word filled with contradiction: “No way, it’s snowing outside.”
Jiang Zheliu said: “But….”
“I’ve already seen it, the plum flowers have blossomed.”
Jiang Zheliu lightly knitted his brows: “Well…..”
“Don’t act wilful with me.”
Jiang Zheliu: “……”
It’s hard to refute a devil who has already made up his mind.
He sighed and said: “I’m not.”
Jiang Zheliu had been cultivating for over a thousand years, he actually didn’t know what acting wilful was like.
Wenren Ye silently continued to stare at him.
Jiang Zheliu’s robes were all light in colour, at this moment, his snow white hair was spread all over the bed, his hairpin had been removed. He had been injured in the Netherworld, so his body was really reliant on the resurrection stone, and after eating the colourless spiritual stone, he began to slowly recover again.
Jiang Zheliu was faced with this Devil Lord’s fierce obstruction, he sat on the soft bed for a while whilst thinking, then looked up to face Wenren for a while and tentatively asked: “Well, will you accompany me there?”
Wenren Ye cruel refusals were suddenly stuck in his throat for a moment.
He gazed into the other’s eyes, and was met with these dark eyes. These eyes did not reflect any light, but they carried an inherent, indifferent and icy beauty.
It was as if he was in front of a handful of melting ice.
Wenren Ye’s throat moved slightly, but he maintained his principles with strong self-control: “No, the weather in Zhongnan Mountain is very cold. For the moment, don’t even think about walking about …”
His words paused slightly, his mind and willpower was repeatedly trying to break down. When the words reached this point, he suddenly fell silent, and then he finally said, “…I will carry you.”
Jiang Zheliu was silent for a while, feeling as if he was disabled, and he reluctantly compromised: “Okay.”
The candle’s flame crackled.
Outside the small pinehouse in the shadow of the light, Shi Binghen dressed in red leaned against the back door, shoulders and sleeves were covered with snow, but he did not care. He turned his eyes to look at the companion next to him, whilst listening against the wall, he said: “Listen, can this be considered progress? Is this really for the sake of learning how to forcefully take what you want by any means possible that we need to create a special class?”
The last-minute teacher who had to return to teach the class, was left at Zhongnan Mountain for reference and to inspect and study, nodded in agreement and said anxiously: “What can we say to make the Lord sound more powerful?”
Shi Binghen held himself in his arms and looked up at the sky. His eyelashes were completely covered by the falling snow. He looked at the night sky in the distance for a while and said absently, “As long as they are really in love with each other, those things aren’t so important.”
