Chapter 26 : Easy to please

Ji Yu did not sleep well.

In her dream, the sound of relentless waves was everywhere, roaring and surging as if trying to pull her into the endless darkness of the deep sea. Drops of water the size of beans fell from the sky, turning into blood as they hit the ground thick and foul-smelling, transforming into a sea of blood that seemed intent on swallowing her.

Above the sea of blood, darkness fell, devouring the heavens and the earth. A storm rose from the sea, sweeping through the world.

In that endless darkness, a blood-red eye slowly opened.

When the eye was fully open, an indescribable fear gripped her heart, nearly suffocating her and causing her consciousness to sink…

“Ji Yu! Ji Yu…”

Ji Yu opened her eyes to the repeated calls, her mind still a bit dazed, staring blankly at the man who had awakened her.

“Ji Yu, did you have a nightmare?” Jiang Shiqiu asked, wiping the cold sweat from her forehead with a cloth.

Ji Yu didn’t respond, only staring at him with a dazed look, as if her consciousness was still immersed in that terrifying dream, her breathing shallow almost to the point of being imperceptible.

Her unclear consciousness made her unaware of the anger and fleeting fierceness in the man’s eyes.

After a while, Ji Yu’s eyes refocused, and she saw the man standing by the bed. She said, “Jiang Shiqiu.”

Jiang Shiqiu responded, tossing the soaked cloth aside, and gently lifted her into his arms.

Perhaps due to the nightmare she had just experienced, her body was extremely cold, her temperature lower than usual. Jiang Shiqiu held her as if he were holding an ice block.

He changed her into clean clothes and then held her tightly in his arms, warming her body.

As her cold body gradually warmed, Ji Yu nestled her face into his embrace, inhaling his scent—like the aroma of aged wood or incense from a temple allowing the warmth to seep into her, and easing the familiar pain within her.

She closed her eyes slightly, relaxing, and feeling a bit drowsy.

“Ji Yu?” Jiang Shiqiu looked down at her, “Wife?”

Ji Yu mumbled in response, asking, “Where did you go tonight?”

Jiang Shiqiu lay down with her and said, “I went out of the city to deal with some unwise evil spirits. Those demon hunters are really useless, they can’t even handle such trivial matters and always come to find me…”

The demon hunters he referred to were members of the Demon Division, whom he found very disappointing.

Even Qin Du, whom the Demon Division favored, was useless in his eyes.

Ji Yu’s lips curved slightly, her voice very soft, “You’re the commander of the Demon Division, their superior, so of course, they have to come to you… Jiang Shiqiu, you’re really impressive.”

Jiang Shiqiu was easily appeased.

He happily said, “I love hearing that, wife. Say it more often in the future.”

Ji Yu laughed softly, agreeing with him.

She closed her eyes, reflecting that this demon was actually quite easy to please, he just wanted to hear flattering words and perhaps receive a kiss. She could certainly provide that!

Perhaps because Jiang Shiqiu stayed with her, Ji Yu didn’t have any more nightmares and slept soundly until dawn.

In the morning, the clear and pleasant calls of the Qingluan bird, accompanied by the sound of the tide, woke her from her sleep.

Ji Yu opened her eyes to see an extraordinarily handsome face. His pale skin was as clear as jade, seeming cold to the eye, but incredibly warm to the touch.

Such warmth was something humans would crave.

How could a demon have such a warm temperature? It was truly incredible.

“Wife, why are you staring at me so early in the morning?”

Jiang Shiqiu opened his eyes and, smiling, asked with no trace of sleepiness in his dark eyes.

As a demon, he didn’t need sleep. However, since he walked among humans in this world, he had adapted to their routines.

Ji Yu’s eyes softened with a smile as she replied honestly, “You look handsome.”

“Really?” Jiang Shiqiu asked, pleased and somewhat bashful. “Do you really think I’m handsome, wife?”

Ji Yu nodded. Demons and spirits often possessed the ability to captivate hearts, and most demons who took on human form were exceptionally beautiful. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say they were stunning enough to bring down a nation; such beauty was hard for mortals to resist, often leading to consequences.

Jiang Shiqiu’s mood was greatly improved by Ji Yu’s words, and even Hongxiao and Ji Buhuan could see it.

Hongxiao asked with a smile, “Lord Jiang, you seem to be in a great mood today. Did something good happen?”

As a member of the Black Armor Guard trained by the Ji family, Hongxiao was not a demon hunter but had grown up with Ji Yu and Ji Buhuan. She had a special bond with them and, having spent time with Jiang Shiqiu, occasionally engaged in casual conversation with him.

Jiang Shiqiu, dressed in red, stood in the wind and said nonchalantly, “Ji Yu said I look good, so she keeps staring at me when she wakes up! Ah, it seems that being too handsome can be quite troublesome.”

Hongxiao: “…”

Ji Buhuan: “…”

They understood now, he was showing off in front of them.

Jiang Shiqiu’s good mood was soon disrupted by the arrival of Qin Du.

When Qin Du entered and saw Jiang Shiqiu’s smiling face, he thought that Lord Jiang must be in a good mood today and saw an opportunity.

However, instead of diving straight into business, he greeted Ji Yu first and said, “There have been some anomalies in a water area near Qingyu City recently, with several fishermen going missing. It’s suspected that a demon might be causing trouble. The Demon Division has investigated but hasn’t been able to identify the demon, so we thought it would be a good idea to have Lord Jiang take a look, as he might discern something.”

He then added sincerely, “If we can eliminate the troublemaking demon soon, it will prevent more harm to the people.”

Ji Yu agreed, “What Master Qin says is very true.”

With her approval, Qin Du was pleased and looked at Jiang Shiqiu with a smile.

Over the past month, having dealt with Jiang Shiqiu more often, Qin Du had learned about his character and understood how to navigate interactions with him. He had figured out that approaching Jiang Shiqiu through Ji Yu usually led to better results.

Sure enough, despite Jiang Shiqiu’s initial reluctance, he still went out with Qin Du.

However, the next few days might be challenging for Qin Du, as he could end up facing significant difficulties. But he was used to it and didn’t mind, he had tough skin and could handle the challenges, while also gaining valuable experience alongside Jiang Shiqiu, which he considered worthwhile.

Just as Jiang Shiqiu left, visitors arrived.

Hongxiao brought them in. They were people Ji Yu knew, Xu Xiuju, Zuo Lingshuang from the Demon Hunter Alliance, and a girl dressed in pink with a charming appearance.

“Cousin~”

The girl in pink, like a light and cheerful bird, joyfully flung herself toward Ji Yu.

Ji Yu’s eyes brightened slightly. She embraced the girl, her usually cold voice now carrying a touch of warmth, and asked with a smile, “Yang Yang, you came too?”

The girl in pink was Pei Yang, a disciple of the Pei family from Yufu Cliff, and she was Ji Yu’s cousin.

Years ago, a great-aunt from the Ji family married into the Pei family, making Ji Yu call her great-grandmother, who was also Pei Yang’s grandmother.

Due to frequent illness, Ji Yu had stayed at the Pei family’s residence for a period in the past while seeking treatment, and she had developed a deep bond with Pei Yang.

“Yes, cousin, are you surprised to see me?” Pei Yang chirped, “I’ve grown up now, and this time I begged my parents to let me come see you…”

Although Ji Yu was delighted, she didn’t forget the other guests. She greeted them and invited them to sit.

Xu Xiujue looked at her with concern and asked, “How is your health, Junior Sister Ji?”

“It’s quite good, thank you for your concern, Brother Xu,” Ji Yu replied.

Zuo Lingshuang also inquired about Ji Yu’s health. After their recent visit to the Yanyue Villa, Zuo Lingshuang and others had come to see a different side of Ji Yu beyond the rumors, and they felt a mutual appreciation for each other.

So, upon learning that Ji Yu had arrived at the Chen family’s residence, Zuo Lingshuang had come directly to visit.

As they were talking, Pei Yang glanced around and suddenly asked, “Cousin, where is Lord Jiang, the Commander of the Demon Division?”

She had come today specifically to see her cousin’s husband and was curious about what he looked like.

Ji Yu smiled and said, “He had to go out on business.”

Pei Yang was quite disappointed and expressed that she would come back the next day, hoping to meet her cousin’s husband then.

Xu Xiujue observed the bright smile on Ji Yu’s face, which softened the coolness of her demeanor and made her look exceptionally gentle and lovely.

He lowered his gaze and sighed internally.

Knowing that Ji Yu’s health was fragile and not wanting to disturb her rest, the three of them soon took their leave.

Pei Yang reluctantly held Ji Yu’s hand and said, “Cousin, you need to take good care of yourself. There are many delicious and fun places in Qingyu City. I haven’t had a chance to explore them yet.”

Ji Yu smiled and promised to take care.

Pei Yang jumped up happily and said, “That’s great! With Cousin here, my older siblings won’t be so strict with me anymore.”

She was still young, just starting out, and with limited experience. Her older siblings doted on her and were overprotective, fearing she might encounter danger. They kept a close watch on her when she went out and rarely let her wander freely.

After being cooped up for a few days, Pei Yang had been longing to go out.

Now, with Cousin Ji Yu, the young master of the Ji family, with her, she could finally have some fun.

After seeing off the guests, it was time for Ji Yu to take her medicine. Hongxiao brought over a bowl of freshly prepared herbal soup.

The medicine was still hot, so Hongxiao placed it aside and retrieved some candied fruits Jiang Shiqiu had bought a few days ago on the road, preparing to give Ji Yu a sweet treat afterward.

Ji Buhuan entered from outside and said, “Young Master, the third miss of the Chen family and her husband are here and wish to see you.”

The third miss of the Chen family?

Hongxiao immediately realized that the visitors were Chen Qingzhe’s parents, Chen Mu and Shang Yunxiao.

She looked at Ji Yu with some concern.

Ji Yu’s expression remained unchanged as she said, “Let them come in.”

“Young Master…” Hongxiao hesitated.

Ji Yu smiled and said, “This is the Chen family’s home. We are guests, it’s only right to allow the hosts to enter.”

Ji Buhuan understood from Ji Yu’s calm demeanor that although she appeared delicate, she was actually resolute and determined. There was no need to worry excessively.

He turned and went out to invite the guests in.

A short while later, Ji Buhuan brought Chen Mu and her husband inside.

Chen Mu, in her early twenties, was young and beautiful with a bright and straightforward personality.

This was not surprising, as she was a highly talented demon hunter who could maintain her youth. Because of her exceptional talent, the Chen family was unwilling to let her marry out and instead sought a husband for her.

As for Shang Yunxiao, although he was an ordinary man, time had been very kind to him. Despite some hardships he endured as a criminal in his earlier years, he quickly recovered his health after entering the Ji family. Later, when he married into the Chen family, they treated him well. Over the years, living in luxury and with natural good looks, he appeared to be around thirty, the most charming age for a man.

Ji Yu looked up at them and invited them to sit.

The couple brought many gifts, mostly herbs and supplements for Ji Yu’s health.

It was clear that these gifts were prepared by Chen Mu.

Chen Mu expressed her concern, “I see that Young Master’s complexion is better than before. Is your health improving?”

Ji Yu thanked her for her concern and replied softly, “Yes, it is indeed better than before.”

Chen Mu smiled and said, “That’s a relief.”

In contrast to Chen Mu’s concern, Shang Yunxiao sat there coolly, showing no interest in his daughter.

Once the most handsome man in Yunjing, even though his prime years were behind him, he remained an exceptionally handsome man. Sitting there, he looked like a beauty shrouded in clouds.

Ji Yu and Chen Qingzhe inherited their looks from him. When father and daughter were together, it was undeniable to anyone that they shared a close blood relation.

After expressing concern for Ji Yu’s health, Chen Mu finally explained the purpose of her visit.

With a look of apology, she said, “Qingzhe has been truly outrageous. We’ve already heard about the incident at Yanyue Villa from Qingfeng, and he was indeed at fault. At such a young age, to commit such vicious acts… Last month, we punished him by confining him in a dark room for reflection, and he only came out a few days ago. We didn’t expect…”

As she spoke, her face grew increasingly angry, clearly frustrated with her son.

Ji Yu’s expression remained unchanged she did not interrupt, merely lowering her head to drink her medicine.

The faintly bitter smell of the medicine permeated the room.

Seeing this, Chen Mu’s expression softened a bit, and she said, “If there are any problems in the future, Young Master Ji, feel free to send someone to find us.”

She did not offer any sentimental words but made her position clear.

Though she could not bring herself to love this daughter of her husband’s previous marriage as her own, she genuinely hoped for her well-being.

Ji Yu responded, “Thank you, Third Miss.”

She did not comment further.

Chen Mu, not particularly concerned with the lack of warmth, said a few more words of concern before taking her leave.

Throughout the visit, Shang Yunxiao remained silent. Ji Yu had no intention of engaging with him, and the two acted as if the other did not exist.

As they left the guest courtyard, Chen Mu said with resignation, “Why do you have to be like this? Young Master Ji is your daughter, you can’t sever the bond of blood. There’s nothing wrong with caring about your own daughter, and no one would blame you. Since you rarely get to see her, you should have a proper conversation with her.”

Shang Yunxiao replied coolly, “We have nothing to discuss.”

Seeing that he was unwilling to elaborate, Chen Mu sighed and said no more.

—

Ji Yu asked Hongxiao to show Chen Mu and her husband out, indicating that she did not wish to keep them any longer.

Hongxiao complied.

The visit from Chen Mu and her husband did not affect Ji Yu’s mood, she continued as usual.

Perhaps aware of Ji Yu’s health issues, there were not many visitors today. Ji Yu was indifferent, resting comfortably in the guest courtyard, enjoying the peace and quiet.

The day passed in this manner.

As night fell and Jiang Shiqiu still had not returned, Ji Yu did not wait for him. After finishing her medicine, she went to sleep.

However, as soon as she lay down, she began to dream again.

The sound of the tide was unceasing. Heavy rain poured down on the black sea surface, turning into blood that spread and transformed the dream world into a sea of blood.

Ji Yu felt like a small fish in the blood sea, constantly at risk of being engulfed by the storm and massive waves.

Endless pain spread through her body, causing her to convulse and suffer terribly.

The pain was so intense that fragmented cries escaped her throat. She tried to reach for something, but even her fingers would not move.

In the dark night sky, a blood-red eye slowly opened.

Ji Yu could not see it. By the time the eye opened, she was already in so much pain that she couldn’t even cry out, her breaths coming in weak, intermittent gasps.

Her consciousness began to fade, and she murmured, “Jiang… Shiqiu…”

A large, well-defined hand suddenly broke through the darkness and reached toward the blood-red, malevolent eye.

With a cracking sound, like a shattered mirror, cracks appeared in the dark sky, and the eye was covered in web-like fissures before shattering with a loud pop.

As the darkness receded, the terrible pain also disappeared.

Ji Yu opened her eyes, drenched in sweat that had soaked her clothes.

She looked at the man holding her, her eyes wet with sweat and her vision blurred. She murmured, “Jiang Shiqiu…”

“I’m here!”

Jiang Shiqiu held her tightly, kissing her pale, cold face. “Ji Yu, I’m here. It’s okay, it’s okay!”