“Why are you trembling, my dear wife?”
The two of them spent the entire day wandering the streets. When they looked up again, it was already dark. The street remained lively, hung with all kinds of lanterns. Many young gentlemen and ladies had come out to enjoy this beautiful time, taking advantage of the night.
As for why this was worth mentioning, it was because right in front of Qi Yan stood such a couple. The gentleman held a folding fan, and the young lady held a lantern. Their voices were not loud, but they were just clear enough for Qi Yan to hear. This created an awkward situation. If they acted rashly, the couple would certainly notice him and Shen Yuzong. Yet, if they stayed put, eavesdropping on others felt inappropriate.
Before Qi Yan could contemplate a result, he heard the young gentleman say to the lady with deep affection, “The moon climbs above the willow tree; we meet after dusk.”
Qi Yan: …
Shen Yuzong saw Qi Yan hanging his head, poking at the fish in the lake with a stick. Following his lead, he leaned into Qi Yan’s ear and whispered, “I wish to find one heart, to grow old together and never part.”
Qi Yan turned his head in anger and rebuked, “You have already grown old.”
Shen Yuzong smiled, crouched down, and leaned gently against Qi Yan. For this outing, he had specially hidden his original hair color. At this very moment, their jet-black hair ends were tangled together, indistinguishable from one another under the dim moonlight.
Shen Yuzong reached out to hold Qi Yan’s hand and whispered, “Close your eyes. How about a surprise?”
Qi Yan looked back. “Do you think I am stupid? You want to use the same trick twice?”
“This time it is real. But if you do not believe me, Zhuzhu, then forget it.” Shen Yuzong sighed.
Qi Yan knew he could not outplay Shen Yuzong, so he resigned himself to closing his eyes. Shen Yuzong pressed against Qi Yan’s face and took his fingertips, gently pushing them toward the lake.
Qi Yan immediately felt a chill. Shen Yuzong had not intentionally covered his eyes, so as soon as he opened them, the first thing that entered his sight was an orange lantern. It was shaped like a lotus flower, with a small piece of candle burning in the center.
How tacky. Who actually uses orange to make a lotus? Do they have any sense of aesthetics at all?
While complaining in his heart, Qi Yan leaned in to take a closer look at the lantern. There seemed to be some words written on it.
“What is written on it?” Qi Yan asked Shen Yuzong.
Shen Yuzong whispered, “A secret.”
Pretending to be mysterious.
Receiving a roll of the eyes from Qi Yan, Shen Yuzong remained as indifferent as ever, holding Qi Yan’s hand to release the lantern. Illuminated by the candlelight, the characters on the lantern looked very blurred and drifted further and further away with the ripples of the water. Yet, at that very instant, Qi Yan suddenly caught a clear glimpse of the last four words on it.
My wife, Qi Yan.
Qi Yan…
“Speaking of the former Demon Lord of the Demon Realm, Qi Yan…”
“I, Shen Yuzong, vow to be with Qi Yan for lifetimes to come…”
“Descendant of the Mermen, Qi Yan. I wish to swear upon my life…”
Qi Yan, Qi Yan.
“Who is Qi Yan?”
“Your former name.”
In an instant, countless doubts in Qi Yan’s mind connected into a complete line. His feet felt rooted to the ground, his gaze dazed. Qi Yan stared at the lantern that had already drifted to the center of the lake, his mind a complete mess. His fingertips still retained the warmth of Shen Yuzong’s palm, yet Qi Yan suddenly felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.
The noisy voices of the crowd around him faded away in an instant, and Qi Yan could only hear the sound of his heartbeat, which was as loud as a drum.
“My dear wife, I love you, for lifetimes to come, and I will never regret it.” Shen Yuzong smiled, forcefully interlacing his fingers with Qi Yan’s. His usually frivolous voice now sounded inexplicably and somewhat psychotically.
Qi Yan trembled subconsciously, as if something had exploded inside his body. It felt as if countless insects were crawling across his hands, sending shivers down his scalp. Shen Yuzong was still saying something in his ear, but Qi Yan had no desire to listen. He remembered the fortune slip he had drawn under the Marriage Tree that day.
The sky and earth unite to form a good match; the day is auspicious and everything is perfect.
“Zhuzhu, what do you think?”
Qi Yan was jolted awake. He turned his head and forced a smile at Shen Yuzong. “Yes.”
Shen Yuzong’s gaze was deep. The cold mask pressed against the back of Qi Yan’s neck, and he recited patiently and lingeringly, “I wish to know you, so that our lives will never fade or wane. The mountains may have no peaks, the rivers may run dry, winter thunder may rumble, summer snow may fall, and the heavens and earth may merge, only then would I dare to part with you.”
Shen Yuzong held down Qi Yan’s hands, which were trembling uncontrollably, and leaned in to ask softly, “Why are you trembling, my dear wife?”
Qi Yan was never one to hide his reactions, so he could only lower his head and make up a random excuse. “My legs are a bit numb from crouching.”
Shen Yuzong chuckled, helped him up, and tidied Qi Yan’s clothes appropriately.
“That is good. I thought you were hiding something from your husband again, Zhuzhu.”
Qi Yan looked up in astonishment. Upon realizing what he said, he bowed his head sharply and said defensively, “What are you talking about? What could I possibly be hiding from you?”
“It is my fault. I am too suspicious, right? I knew you would never lie to me again.”
Qi Yan’s whole body stiffened, and he subconsciously asked, “And what would happen if I did lie to you?”
Confessing without being asked.
Shen Yuzong sneered in his heart. He extended his index finger, lifted Qi Yan’s chin, and met Qi Yan’s shifty gaze with a smirk. “My dear wife can look forward to it. At that time, I will definitely make you cry… to the point where you cannot even shed a tear.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Qi Yan turned his head away and shook off Shen Yuzong’s annoying finger.
“It is nothing. Your husband is just joking. After all, I would not bear to let you suffer such grievances, Zhuzhu.” Shen Yuzong held Qi Yan’s hand and walked toward a nearby inn.
At night, Qi Yan was held in Shen Yuzong’s arms, gazing at the pitch-black ceiling.
Zong’er…
Demon Lord…
Little demon…
While he found it unbelievable, he was also terrified. He reached out and touched the rough scar on his lower abdomen.
If, if that dream is real. If Zong’er is real, and the God-Slaying Sword is also real, then… did I once, by myself… give birth to a child? And I do not even know who the father of this child is…
In the silent room, Qi Yan gulped. A scene suddenly flipped through his mind: Shen Yuzong pressing his face tightly against the scar on his belly.
As things stood, the first thing Qi Yan worried about was not why a dignified Demon Lord like himself had ended up in such a state, but rather what would happen if Shen Yuzong found out that he had once given birth to a child.
Last time, he had only concealed the matter of his tidal period from Shen Yuzong, and he had been treated so miserably. Furthermore, Shen Yuzong had always been obsessed with the scar on his belly, mentioning it from time to time…
If… if he finds out…
Qi Yan bit his lip, not daring to think any further.
So absolutely… absolutely must not let Shen Yuzong find out!
Only after chanting this sentence in his heart countless times did Qi Yan fall into a deep sleep.
However, after a while, Shen Yuzong opened his eyes in the darkness. He stared at Qi Yan with an expression that looked as if he were about to devour him. The smile that usually hung on his face had disappeared without a trace, and his sharp brows and eyes looked extremely gloomy.
He lowered his head and pressed his forehead lightly against Qi Yan’s hair.
Zhuzhu, you had better pray that it takes me a long time to discover the truth.