With this matter concluded, the two prepared to set off back to Qianji. Before leaving, Chang Yu shamelessly wanted to ask them for a talisman, but Yu Li naturally ignored him. In his past life as a demon lord, Yan Zhu only knew how to draw life-taking talismans, not life-saving ones.
When they finally left, Yan Zhu demanded a reward. Chang Yu offered a huge pile of gold and silver treasures, but Yan Zhu only picked and chose a few of the most valuable ones, then walked into the main room and grasped a dusty, greyish bead sitting right in the middle of the table.
Lord Chang does not need to worry about the rest. This reward will be enough.
Chang Yu glanced at it and said with a troubled expression, The origin of this bead is somewhat bizarre…
Yan Zhu rolled his amber eyes slightly, glanced at Yu Li beside him, and began to pester him unreasonably, Oh, come on! Immortal Lord Yu Li and I helped you such a huge favor, and you are not even willing to part with a single bead?
Take it, take it… Cold sweat broke out on Chang Yu’s forehead again as he repeatedly answered.
In the end, Yan Zhu left happily, hugging the bead.
Why lie to him? The young man’s gentle voice reached his ears.
Yan Zhu paused in the middle of toying with the bead in his hand, then replied nonchalantly, People always need a sliver of hope to keep living. I found him somewhat agreeable and did not want him to die right now.
Yu Li lowered his head and gave him a thoughtful look, but only saw the youth’s slender, snow-white neck.
His dark eyes deepened slightly, and his gaze shifted back to the youth’s hands. What is this bead?
Why are you asking about this? Yan Zhu instantly grew alert, clutching the bead tightly in his palm and hiding it behind his back.
Standing half a head taller than him, Yu Li looked down condescendingly from above. Seeing this obvious little maneuver, he was speechless for a moment and said expressionlessly, I am not going to rob you.
Yan Zhu still found it hard to trust him, thinking to himself that if he ever found out what this thing was, he would be a fool not to rob him.
He tucked the bead safely against his chest, not daring to fiddle with it in front of Yu Li anymore for fear that the other would notice something amiss.
The return trip was not as hurried as the journey there, and Yan Zhu’s mind began to wander once again. He pestered Yu Li, saying, Immortal Lord, why don’t we pass by Mount Wuliang? The Luofu flowers of Mount Wuliang are about to bloom, and I want to go have a look.
At the foot of Mount Wuliang was a hidden minor encampment of the Demon Realm. He just wondered if, after all these years, it had been completely uprooted by anyone.
Mount Wuliang was located west of Chongzhou, whereas their return to Qianji required heading east. Without hesitation, Yu Li immediately changed direction, and the flying sword slowly drifted toward their destination.
Yan Zhu looked eagerly at the foot of the mountain, where a very crude barrier had been set up, one that could at best fool mortals, but certainly not Yan Zhu. Although he had lost his cultivation, his discernment remained sharp.
Inside the barrier was a bustling crowd of demon soldiers, speaking with fiery passion and high emotion, though it was unclear what they were discussing.
He cast a cautious sideways glance out of the corner of his eye at the man behind him. Seeing that Yu Li indeed paid no mind to these lowest-tier demon soldiers, Yan Zhu finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Today was truly blessed by the heavens. Just as Yan Zhu looked back, the noisy commotion down below suddenly ceased abruptly.
A group of minor demon soldiers fell trembling to the ground in a heap. After a silent stillness, wisps of black smoke emerged from the air, and a moment later, a figure materialized out of thin air.
He wore a dark black brocade robe woven with gold thread, his black hair secured in place by a silver crown. That face, which had still carried a hint of youthful naivety a few hundred years ago, was now indescribably handsome and debonair.
Oh!
His good son!
Come look at your father! Your father is right here!
Seeing this familiar figure, Yan Zhu was so excited that his limbs trembled, momentarily getting carried away and forgetting all about the man behind him.
Gathering his breath into his Dantian, he stared at the tall, upright figure in black still some distance away and roared, Qing Yao!
Yet not a single shred of his voice escaped, for a barrier had been cast around him by the young man at some point.
His fragile neck was once again gently gripped by Yu Li’s hand, the tender skin being wantily pinched and played with.
Who was Xianyan shouting for just now? Was what I said earlier not clear enough?
You are already my person. Why call out to someone else? Do you still want to have some unclear relationship with that Demon Lord of the Demon Realm?
Yu Li spoke, his voice as cold as ever, low and light, as if carrying a suppressed, aloof brutality.
Only then did Yan Zhu snap back to reality, goosebumps rising all over his body. He was terrified that Yu Li would notice something was amiss and crush him to death with a single move. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
Lifting him by the scruff of his neck, Yu Li effortlessly spun his body around and tightly imprisoned him in his embrace.
Yan Zhu’s entire face was forced against Yu Li’s chest, where he could hear the increasingly rapid heartbeat, feel the faint vibrations of the chest as Yu Li spoke, and catch the lingering fragrance of sandalwood floating near his nose.
After the shock, he felt utterly baffled. He had always known that this original face of his was prone to attracting attention, especially attracting weirdos.
But there was no reason it should attract a righteous immortal lord like Yu Li. Exactly where had things gone wrong? Or was his intuition mistaken?
No, he must have miscalculated, Yan Zhu comforted himself inwardly.
The flying sword drifted further and further away. Not until the sea of black figures was completely out of sight did Yu Li very slowly release the youth in his arms, his dark eyes still staring at him with heavy profundity, as if wanting to strip him bare and swallow him whole.
The heart that Yan Zhu had just managed to calm was hoisted high once again under that gaze. Putting on a calm facade, he met Yu Li’s eyes and began spouting nonsense with a straight face, Man, what are you looking at? Even if you keep looking, you cannot steal my beauty.
Yu Li’s temple twitched imperceptibly, the emotions in his dark eyes turning instantly unspeakable.
At the foot of Mount Wuliang, a group of demon soldiers were reporting on recent developments, when the handsome young man in black suddenly felt his heart skip a beat as if losing its balance. He raised a hand to halt the chattering demon soldiers, turned his head abruptly as if sensing something, and looked toward the spot where the immortal sword had just passed.
Lord… Lord Demon Lord, is there something abnormal over there? Should this subordinate go check it out? a demon guard asked fawningly.
It is nothing, the young man said, his voice casual yet carrying immense, overwhelming deterrence.
Has there been any trace of that missing Demonic Spirit Bead?
No…
The young man chuckled softly twice. A bunch of trash. You cannot find it, and now you cannot even gather news. If this happens again, bring me your heads.
Yes… yes, this subordinate obeys…