23 – Can She Have a Husband? It’s Up to Me to Decide
Lingyao God locked eyes with Yuan Ning Wang for a moment before lowering his gaze, telling himself: Enough. How could he ever match the demon race in matters of ruthlessness and disregard for human life?
There was no need for him to debate with a demon about opposing the entire world.
He raised his head and calmly said to Yuan Ning Wang, “This humble deity seeks an audience with you today not to argue over past grievances between me and my wife. My request is this: Since you, Yuan Ning Wang, are not an eight-year-old child, you should not remain by my wife’s side deceiving her. I ask you to stay away from her—”
Yuan Ning Wang let out a soft, derisive laugh. “Oh? Are you instructing this lord on how to conduct himself?”
Lingyao God bowed slightly. “This humble deity wouldn’t dare. I merely wish to prevent a grown man from masquerading as a child to stay by my wife’s side all day, taking advantage of her…”
Yuan Ning Wang chuckled. “And if this lord refuses?”
Hearing this, Lingyao God subtly scrutinized Yuan Ning Wang.
He couldn’t tell whether the Demon Lord’s refusal to leave Yun Sangsang’s side was due to disrespect toward him, Lingyao, or because he had developed feelings for Yun Sangsang and thus insisted on staying…
He didn’t mind the Demon Lord showing him disrespect, but he did mind the Demon Lord setting his sights on his woman.
He had no desire to become romantic rivals with this powerful and handsome man.
So he said to Yuan Ning Wang, “From what this humble deity understands, your adopted son led a rebellion that caught you off guard, leaving you injured and forcing you to descend to the mortal realm to inhabit this vessel. Under these circumstances, if I were to reveal your whereabouts to your adopted son, you would be in grave danger…”
Yuan Ning Wang paid no heed to Lingyao God’s threat.
He regarded Lingyao God with composed confidence. “Are you planning to jeopardize the lives of all beings in the Celestial Realm and mortal world for the sake of your romantic affairs? If so, then you show even greater disregard for life than this lord.”
Lingyao God feigned ignorance. “What does Yuan Ning Wang mean by that?”
Yuan Ning Wang scoffed. “Don’t play dumb with this lord. Everyone in your Celestial Realm knows that although these hands are stained with blood, I only slaughter corrupt members of the demon race and have never led troops to invade the Celestial Realm or mortal world.
Before I became the Demon Lord, the demon race would erupt in war with the Celestial Realm every thousand years, turning both realms into rivers of blood.
But since I took command of the demon realm, I single-handedly severed the passage between the demon race and the Celestial Realm, allowing your realms to enjoy ten thousand years of peace.”
Yuan Ning Wang glanced disdainfully at Lingyao God. “During this internal demon realm conflict, I was caught off guard and injured. Even your Celestial Emperor immediately sent word, asking if I needed celestial soldiers and generals to help me reclaim the demon realm.
Because your Celestial Emperor knows that only with me remaining as Demon Lord can your Celestial Realm and mortal world enjoy eternal peace. If that wolf cub of an adopted son becomes Demon Lord, your Celestial Realm and mortal world will be plunged into suffering and rivers of blood—”
He clasped his hands behind his back, studying Lingyao God. “So, if you reveal my whereabouts to that wolf cub, you will forever become a sinner against the Celestial Realm and mortal world.”
Hearing this, Lingyao God’s pupils constricted sharply.
He had not known about this!
He stared at Yuan Ning Wang, questioning, “Did the Celestial Emperor truly send you word offering military assistance?”
Yuan Ning Wang raised his hand in a commanding sweep, and a golden talisman flew from his sleeve, transforming into a golden dragon that appeared above Lingyao God. The golden dragon spoke with a human voice—”Celestial Emperor Qiong Cang here inquires after Yuan Ning Wang’s well-being. I’ve heard that the adopted son under Yuan Ning Wang’s care has rebelled, and Yuan Ning Wang has been injured. Would you need my assistance to regain control of the demon realm?”
Divine Lord Lingyao immediately bowed deeply to the golden dragon.
For that golden dragon was unmistakably the phantom of the Celestial Emperor’s true form, which Lingyao knew all too well!
That voice was unmistakably the Celestial Emperor’s!
Therefore, that message was absolutely genuine—it was indeed a communication from the Celestial Emperor. Even the Celestial Emperor feared Yuan Ning Wang’s death and wished to lend him a hand.
Under such circumstances, if he were to reveal Yuan Ning Wang’s whereabouts to that wolf cub of the demon race just for the sake of Yun Sangsang, and if the demon race were to swarm out and kill Yuan Ning Wang, then he would become a sinner against the world.
Not only that, but if the demon race, once in the mortal realm, were to run amok without restraint, slaughtering wildly and causing rivers of blood with countless casualties among the common people, he, Lingyao, would be guilty beyond redemption!
As the Celestial God of law enforcement in the Celestial Realm, Lingyao naturally knew what he ought to do.
He made his decision in an instant.
Turning around, he cupped his hands and bowed to Yuan Ning Wang. “I beg Yuan Ning Wang’s forgiveness. This humble god only wished to keep you away from my beloved wife, hence testing you with the threat of exposing your whereabouts. It was never my intention to show disrespect to you. Please rest assured, Yuan Ning Wang, this humble god would not jeopardize all living beings in the world for mere personal matters.”
Yuan Ning Wang gave a noncommittal “Hmm,” then eyed Divine Lord Lingyao and said, “And stop calling her ‘beloved wife’—it grates on my ears. Yun Sangsang herself has clearly stated that she long ago divorced you. What kind of wife is she to you?”
Divine Lord Lingyao narrowed his eyes slightly as he stared at Yuan Ning Wang. “What business is it of yours, Yuan Ning Wang, if I call my wife as such? Why should it grate on your ears?”
Yuan Ning Wang chuckled lightly. “How is it unrelated? She’s currently racking her brains to trick me into worshiping her. If I agree, she’ll become the deity I worship. Whether the deity I worship can have a husband is for me to decide.”
“Uh…” A vein throbbed at Divine Lord Lingyao’s temple.
He had never encountered such an arrogant and domineering worshiper. What worshiper in the world would dare interfere with whether the deity they served took a husband or not?
If anyone claimed this man had no particular interest in Sang Sang, even ghosts wouldn’t believe it!
Lowering his gaze, he thought to himself that perhaps he should assert his claim. Otherwise, given Yuan Ning Wang’s domineering possessiveness toward Sang Sang, he would inevitably end up competing for her!
Having decided, Divine Lord Lingyao raised his head and fixed his gaze on Yuan Ning Wang again. “Yuan Ning Wang may not be aware, but years ago in the mortal realm, I wronged Sang Sang. She was disappointed in me and has since refused to acknowledge me as her husband. However, whether she acknowledges it or not, we never divorced. Throughout the Three Realms, it is known that she remains my wife to this day.”
He thought to himself: Although in the mortal realm, his reincarnation as Yun Sanghua and Sang Sang both died, and that marital bond ended with their deaths as a couple…
Yet, though Yun Sanghua died, he, Divine Lord Lingyao, lives on. Sang Sang has been resurrected as a celestial maiden of the Celestial Realm. Both of them still exist—he refused to accept that their marital tie was severed!
He would not acknowledge it!
“You two never divorced?”
Yuan Ning Wang rubbed his chin as he studied Divine Lord Lingyao.
Was that how it was?
So that Broom Star came to deceive him, the esteemed Demon Lord, saying that if he worshipped her, she would become his wife—without even having divorced this man?
Was the Broom Star somewhat unfaithful, or was this Divine Lord Lingyao spouting nonsense?
Never mind, he’d set it aside for now.
In a few days, he’d subtly inquire with the Broom Star about it.That clever Demon Lord didn’t quite believe this nonsense from Lingyao Divine Lord.