Chapter 20 : Greed

A cold wind rushed in through the open door, and the sound of rain gradually subsided.

Ji Yu, lying on the bed, looked at the man who had entered from the night wind. His scarlet robes were lifted by the breeze, and his black hair flew wildly.

The candle flickered in the wind, making it hard for her to see his expression clearly. All she could discern from the overwhelming aura of danger was that he was extremely displeased. Even the night wind seemed to fear him, carefully avoiding him.

For some reason, Ji Yu found herself wanting to laugh, and a smile escaped her lips despite the situation.

Jiang Shiqiu crushed the remaining dried grass on the floor underfoot. As if still dissatisfied, he waved his sleeve, turning the fragments into dust that blew away into the fading rain.

Dust to dust, earth to earth.

He approached the bed, lifted the weak and frail person into his arms, and anxiously asked, “Wife, were you frightened?”

“No,” Ji Yu naturally wrapped her arms around his neck to steady herself.

Realizing what she had done, her expression momentarily froze, but she did not let go. She tilted her head slightly, gazing at the endless night outside, and asked, “How is it outside?”

Jiang Shiqiu sat down with her in his arms, noticing her dry lips. He set her down gently, poured a glass of water, and fed it to her. He casually added, “It’s nothing. No one died.”

He said this last part specifically for her benefit, knowing she was concerned about the villagers’ safety.

Ji Yu drank half the warm water from his hand, smiled, and said, “Jiang Shiqiu, thank you.”

Jiang Shiqiu pressed his lips together, ensured she was alright, and carefully placed her back on the bed, wrapping her in the quilt.

He waved his hand, closing the open door.

Still looking displeased, he touched her slightly cool face and said, “It seems that from now on, I should stay by your side at all times.”

Ji Yu turned her head to look at him. She suddenly reached out and touched the damp ends of his hair. He had gone out without an umbrella, and his hair was half wet.

She took a clean handkerchief from the bedside and gently wiped the water droplets from his hair.

Her actions were soft and gentle, focused on drying his hair.

Jiang Shiqiu’s fierce expression softened, showing a hint of surprise. It was difficult for him to refuse such warmth. His eyes, as dark as cold jade, flashed with surprise.

His gaze became eager, full of affection, and there was no trace of his previous anger.

As she finished drying his hair and was about to withdraw her hand, he tightly grasped it.

“Wife…”

Ji Yu’s face flushed slightly. She tried to pull her hand back, but he held it firmly. Seeing his eyes fixed on her with a happy expression, she gave up on insisting.

She cleared her throat and said gently, “Jiang Shiqiu, even though we are married, we cannot always be together. You are already doing well, there is no need to be like this.”

Jiang Shiqiu, still pleased, immediately replied, “That won’t do. Wherever you are, I will be there.”

As a demon, he had the privilege to be capricious, and human conventions did not apply to him.

Ji Yu: … It seemed like he didn’t understand human logic.

Although the pressure was considerable, Ji Yu remained mentally stable, facing it rather than ignoring it.

She said, “If I truly became your wife…”

“We are husband and wife,” Jiang Shiqiu said, looking at her with a cautious expression. “Wife, we have already had a wedding ceremony. Do you not acknowledge it?”

Ji Yu:

“…I don’t deny it.”

Jiang Shiqiu finally let out a sigh of relief.

Although he was a demon, he understood the difference between humans and demons. For a person to accept being married to a demon was indeed a tall order. If one’s resolve was not strong enough, they might go mad sooner or later. Even if they did not go mad, living with a demon, eating at the same table, and sharing the same bed would be unbearable. The constant fear and despair would likely lead to death for one or both.

This was why he had taken on a human identity for himself.

Unfortunately, while he could alter the memories of all mortals, he could not alter hers.

Fortunately, his wife was a courageous girl. Since their first meeting, despite her wariness and suspicion, she had not panicked, vehemently denying their marriage and rejecting his approach.

Jiang Shiqiu was very pleased with this.

However, some things are not only beyond human hearts but also beyond the reach of demons, who are naturally cruel and greedy, with insatiable desires. Even though he had gained her closeness, it was still not enough. He wanted more her joys, sorrows, and her heart.

Ji Yu continued to look at him, her expression still gentle and calm, with a slight smile that added a touch of purity and beauty to her pale, weary face.

Like an immortal who had descended to the mortal world, she was purely beautiful.

She said, “Jiang Shiqiu, if you do not mind that I am frail and a burden, then let us be husband and wife.”

Jiang Shiqiu seemed stunned, his demonic face showing a hint of foolishness.

In a moment, he reacted, both shocked and delighted. “Really?”

Ji Yu smiled and nodded. She meant what she said and demonstrated it by leaning toward him, lightly pressing her lips to his face in a brief, delicate kiss.

In that moment, his eyes, like black jade, widened in shock, taking on an ominous red hue, appearing demonic and terrifying.

Ji Yu, embarrassed, stepped back. When she saw the faint red demonic patterns appearing on his otherwise jade-like face, her expression faltered slightly. She said nothing but continued to smile at him.

The entire night, Jiang Shiqiu was somewhat out of sorts.

However, Ji Yu, still recovering from her illness, quickly fell back to sleep once the rain outside ceased.

The next morning, Ji Yu woke to the crowing of roosters and was startled to see a pair of blood-red, demonic eyes staring back at her. Despite her usual composure in the face of danger, she was taken aback, nearly using her golden beads to ward off the demon.

Her heart raced so quickly that it felt as though it was being squeezed.

Suppressing her physical pain, she maintained a calm demeanor and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Noticing the fleeting look of discomfort on her face, Jiang Shiqiu anxiously asked, “Wife, are you feeling unwell? Does anything hurt?”

He pulled her into his arms, carefully checking her condition.

The warmth of his embrace eased her cold body and seemed to lessen her pain significantly.

This was not an illusion,  Ji Yu had realized over the past few days that her pain would diminish considerably when she was close to him, as if it were being suppressed and no longer causing her restless suffering.

Despite being a temporary relief, it was comforting.

Ji Yu looked away from her thoughts and smiled, “It’s nothing… but why are your eyes like this?”

She glanced at his demonic, blood-red eyes. Though not accustomed to them, she faced him directly, neither afraid nor ignoring him.

Jiang Shiqiu replied calmly, “I was just so excited that I couldn’t control myself.”

Ji Yu: … Unable to control himself? Is he turning demonic?

Once she understood his excitement, she felt a bit embarrassed. She cleared her throat and said no more.

After dawn, the group set off again.

The previous night’s storm had left the ground muddy with puddles everywhere. The mountain scenery was refreshed, and the vegetation was even greener after the heavy rain.

Ji Yu sat in the carriage and lifted the curtain to look outside.

Because the rain stopped in time last night and did not cause floods, the crops have not yet been planted in the fields. Looking around, it looked like ponds filled with water. Many villagers were releasing water and preparing to plow the land. In a few days, it would be time for spring ploughing.

Seeing this simple and ordinary scene, Ji Yu thought again of the water ghost from last night.

The water ghost was not one of the local spirits but had come with the storm, its target clearly being her.

She was not surprised by this.

Throughout her life, she had been particularly susceptible to attracting demons and spirits. Her grandmother had always been reluctant to let her go out and made careful arrangements when she did.

Although she was the young master of the Ji family, she had few opportunities to go out and gain experience.

In the past, demons and spirits either coveted her body or wanted to kill her. The water ghost from last night was the first to explicitly mention a “curse.”

Curse?

If there is indeed a curse, Ji Yu could understand her grandmother’s attitude over the years. If the curse is truly irreversible, there might be more to her engagement with Jiang Shiqiu than meets the eye.

“Wife, what are you thinking about?”

Jiang Shiqiu’s voice came through. Ji Yu looked up to see his face almost against hers, their breaths mingling.

Instinctively, she tried to pull away, but with her back against the carriage wall, there was nowhere to retreat.

“Wife.” Jiang Shiqiu placed his hands on the wall behind her, his expression showing a hint of grievance. “Do you dislike me?”

Ji Yu: “…No.”

“You clearly do dislike me.” Jiang Shiqiu’s tone grew more sorrowful. “Otherwise, why would you try to avoid me whenever I get close?”

Isn’t this just being uncomfortable?

Ji Yu thought to herself, but maintained her composure. “I’m sorry, it won’t happen again.”

Jiang Shiqiu’s mood lightened instantly. He moved even closer, their breaths mingling. His eyes, like dark jade, took on a reddish hue, giving off a chilling, ominous aura.

“Wife, what were you thinking so intently just now?” Jiang Shiqiu asked again.

Ji Yu did not hide her thoughts. She pondered for a moment before speaking, “The water ghost from last night mentioned the curse of the Ji family…”