Chapter 21 : Sending Fish

Ji Yu briefly simply told him what the water ghost had said, keeping her eyes fixed on him.

It was a chilly spring day, and the carriage windows were tightly covered, casting dim light inside. Jiang Shiqiu’s figure was shrouded in the gloom, making it difficult to discern his expression.

Noticing her unwavering gaze, Jiang Shiqiu seemed to smile slightly, his voice deep and melodious. “Wife, do you want to know about the curse?”

Although it was a question, it was more of a confirmation.

He knew she was asking him this because she had her suspicions. It wasn’t surprising that she had guessed correctly.

Ji Yu’s hand, which was resting on the golden beads around her wrist, paused slightly.

She nodded silently and asked, “Will you tell me?”

There were many issues between them, besides their inherent differences as a human and a demon. What about their marriage? Who arranged it? Why would anyone set up an engagement between a human and a demon?

Previously, due to her wariness of him, she hadn’t asked much.

But now, her mindset had changed, and she felt it was time to ask these questions without hesitation.

“Ji Yu, it’s not the right time yet,” Jiang Shiqiu said, reaching out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear, revealing her delicate, white earlobe, which looked like fine jade.

Ji Yu was silent for a moment, then leaned against the carriage wall and closed her eyes.

At this moment, his warm body pressed close, enveloping her in warmth and driving away the pervasive chill of early spring.

“Wife,” Jiang Shiqiu’s voice was deep and rich, “you will know in time.”

Ji Yu opened her eyes and looked at him helplessly. “Could you… keep a little distance? There’s no need to be so close.”

In broad daylight, their closeness made her uncomfortable.

Jiang Shiqiu pretended not to hear, affectionately rubbing his face against hers, and somewhat shyly said, “Wife, could you kiss me like you did last night?”

Ji Yu: “…”

Ji Yu turned her head, staring at his face.

They were so close that she could see his flawless, exquisite features in the dim light, which seemed even more enchanting and beguiling. It felt as though a single glance would make her unable to resist his allure.

This was a natural demon, capable of easily ensnaring even the most resolute hearts.

Her heart was beating faster than usual, and by the time she regained her senses, she realized she had instinctively clung to his shoulder. They were extremely close, their breaths mingling once again.

In that moment, her mind was flooded with countless thoughts, yet she felt as if she was thinking of nothing at all.

Before she could decide whether to advance or retreat, the man pressed against her, had already moved closer, his warm breath imprinting on her, gradually overwhelming her senses.

Inside the carriage, the quiet was broken only by the sound of the wheels.

After an indeterminate time, Ji Yu, breathing unevenly, rested her face on his shoulder, trying to steady her breath and ease the pain in her chest caused by suffocation.

Jiang Shiqiu gently patted her slender back, calming her.

“Wife, are you feeling very uncomfortable?” His voice was hoarse, his touch gentle and tender, as if all his tenderness in this life was given to the human in his arms.

Demons are inherently merciless, yet they can be tender and passionate, bound by emotions and desires.

Ji Yu did not wish to speak, her lips a deep red, breathing faintly.

After a long while, she finally managed to reply, “I’m okay.”

The phrase “I’m okay” was something Ji Yu often used. Those who knew her well were always touched by this phrase, fearing that she buried everything inside and bore it alone.

Jiang Shiqiu was originally moved, but having just experienced such sweetness, he was somewhat distracted.

“Wife.” He lifted her face, and after confirming that the pained expression on her face had eased, he said with a hint of indulgence, “Could you do it again?”

Ji Yu: “… No way!”

Due to Ji Yu’s firm refusal, Jiang Shiqiu was quite disappointed. All day, he kept staring at her lips. Originally pale, her lips had gained some color, like blooming petals, more fragrant and sweet.

He thought it looked very tempting and delicious.

Ji Yu maintained a calm expression, pretending not to notice his gaze, though she was quite helpless inside.

Indeed, some things should not be indulged in, or the consequences could be dire.

Despite her reluctance, that night, while lodging in the city, they ended up sharing the same bed.

In the following days, Jiang Shiqiu’s mood remained excellent, and even Hongxiao and the others noticed his good spirits.

“Lord Jiang, have you had any good news lately?” Hongxiao asked curiously.

Jiang Shiqiu, who usually appeared elegant and gentle but was inherently irritable and impetuous, was rarely patient with irrelevant people.

However, since Hongxiao was one of Ji Yu’s guards, he gave her some courtesy, and his tone was quite mild. “Ji Yu health is improving. Isn’t that something to be happy about?”

Hongxiao thought this was reasonable and smiled, “It’s thanks to Lord Jiang’s care that the Young Master is recovering.”

She felt it was great to have Lord Jiang around, the Young Master no longer had to bear everything alone as before.

Lord Jiang always managed to bring out the Young Master’s true self.

Jiang Shiqiu accepted her gratitude calmly, thinking to himself that naturally, he would take good care of his wife.

On the other hand, Ji Yu sat in the cabin reading a book. She looked up and saw Jiang Shiqiu and Hongxiao talking on the deck, and her book-flipping motion slightly paused.

After traveling for more than half a month, they arrived at a nearby ferry yesterday, switched to a boat, and would soon reach Wuhuan Mountain in a few days.

The weather was pleasant today, clear and sunny.

The man bathing in sunlight, clad in fiery red, was extraordinarily handsome, his appearance unmatched. The scenery along the way paled in comparison to his glance over his shoulder.

Ji Yu gazed, somewhat dazed, and sharply noticed that many passengers on the boat were watching him.

In the sunlight, the handsome man was flamboyant and passionate, unlike an ordinary guest.

Who could have guessed that such a stunning man, eclipsing even the beauty of spring, was not human? Perhaps only a demon could create such flawless, extreme beauty.

Noticing her gaze, he turned and looked back, then offered a bright and pure smile.

“Wife.” He called out, striding towards the cabin.

The female passengers around them who had been eyeing him, either with interest or curiosity, looked disappointed upon hearing the word “wife.” They hadn’t expected such a handsome man to be married at a young age.

Jiang Shiqiu was completely indifferent to the looks of others. He entered the cabin and warmly took Ji Yu’s hand. “Wife, the weather is nice today and the wind is warm. You should go outside, get some fresh air, and enjoy the sunshine.”

As it was his first time taking care of a wife, Jiang Shiqiu had a lot to learn.

The first thing he learned was that people needed to occasionally bask in the sun and get some fresh air for their health.

He lifted Ji Yu in his arms and coaxed her out of the cabin.

She was a little embarrassed, her frail body was held in his arms. They met many passengers on the boat along the way, but he did not take them seriously and continued to do his own thing without changing.

Hongxiao, smiling, brought a sun hat for Ji Yu. The wind was a bit strong, causing the light gauze on the hat to flutter.

Jiang Shiqiu brought her to the deck and stood in the wind to shield her from the breeze coming off the river.

The sunlight was warm and gentle. The green mountains on both sides of the river mirrored each other, and the catkins were in full bloom, drifting through the air and falling onto the river. The water was rippling, sparkling in the sunlight a breathtaking scene.

Catkins floated in the wind, landing in their hair. The contrast of black hair and white flowers made it seem as if they were destined to grow old together.

Ji Yu’s eyes showed a hint of a smile as she reached up to remove the catkins from his black hair.

“Wife, don’t we look like we’re growing old together?” Jiang Shiqiu asked, smiling, as he watched the white catkins fall onto her hair. The black and white was so distinct.

Ji Yu was momentarily taken aback, then replied with a smile, “Not really”

He was a demon, and demons didn’t grow old like humans. How could they grow old together?

Jiang Shiqiu, unaware of her thoughts, said enthusiastically, “If we could grow old together in the future, it would indeed be a wonderful thing. Even when you’re old, you’ll still be unmatched in beauty.”

Such sweet words made her blush slightly.

To grow old together…

As night fell, the passenger boat drifted downstream. The boat was quiet, with most people having fallen asleep to the sound of the flowing river, except for the patrolling guards.

Mist rose from the river, and occasionally strange water noises could be heard.

The guards on the boat were ordinary people. Hearing the water noises, they thought nothing of it. They had already made offerings to the river gods and sought permission from the spirits, so barring any accidents, they should reach their destination smoothly.

Ji Yu woke in the middle of the night. Just as she was about to get up, she was held back.

“It’s not dawn yet,” the man’s voice was hoarse and displeased. “Wife, go back to sleep.”

Ji Yu, however, was still worried. She reached out to touch the charm by the bedside and said hesitantly, “Outside…”

“It’s nothing, just some water demons that don’t dare come aboard.”

Even as he held her down, Ji Yu remained uneasy.

“I’m not going out, I just want to check,” she said, negotiating with him.

With a wife who is dedicated to hunting demons and protecting the people, even a demon from the underworld has to helplessly accompany her in her quest.

Jiang Shiqiu put a pink and navy cloak over her and told her to stay in the cabin while he went out to investigate.

“Wife, drink some water. I’ll be back as soon as you finish this glass.”

He poured her a cup of warm water and handed it to her to soothe her throat.

Ji Yu smiled and accepted, sitting there and sipping the water slowly.

Before she could finish, Jiang Shiqiu returned, closing the door behind him to block the chilly night breeze.

“Wife, it’s taken care of. Let’s continue to rest,” Jiang Shiqiu said as he took the cup from her hand and led her back to bed.

Ji Yu glanced out the window. Through the partially open shutters, she could see the river’s surface, now calm in the night.

Knowing his abilities, she didn’t ask further and settled into bed.

The next morning, Ji Yu noticed a transparent glass bottle in the cabin. The bottle was sealed and about the size of a jade pendant, containing a colorful little fish.

Ji Yu got up, approached the table, and observed the fish in the bottle. It was motionless, appearing as though it were dead.

As she leaned in closer, it suddenly flicked its tail and lunged at her, opening its sharp mouth to bite.

Of course, it bit nothing.

Ji Yu blinked and remarked bluntly, “It’s so ugly and dumb.”

The fish had a disproportionately large head, making its body seem tiny and misshapen. Its sharp mouth kept biting the bottle incessantly, truly looking quite unattractive and foolish.

Hearing her comments, the little fish grew even more agitated, biting the bottle with greater force, making a persistent clicking sound.

Finding it amusing, Ji Yu sat down and began to play with the bottle.

It seemed the fish was deliberately trapped in the bottle, it was easy to guess who had put it there.

Jiang Shiqiu entered with a food box and saw her playing with the fish. He glanced at it nonchalantly.

The fish, which had been aggressively biting the bottle, suddenly went stiff and sank to the bottom, resuming its earlier motionless state.

Ji Yu noticed this and asked thoughtfully, “What kind of fish is this? A pufferfish?”

“It’s the fish demon that caused trouble last night,” Jiang Shiqiu replied casually.

Ji Yu asked in confusion, “How did you capture it?”

“It disturbed your rest, so I brought it here as a little gift for you,” he said matter-of-factly. “Its scales are quite colorful if you like them, you can peel them off and play with them.”

The pufferfish in the bottle seemed to puff up even more, its eyes bulging like bubbles, and its face growing even more swollen and unattractive.

“It’s too ugly,” Ji Yu said, unable to look at it.

Jiang Shiqiu replied, “Then let’s just get rid of it.”

Pufferfish: “!!!!”

The pufferfish, terrified, swam towards Ji Yu, its bubble-like eyes filled with tears, shaking its head and trying hard to look cute.

It understood that if it wanted to survive, it needed to please this demon hunter.

It couldn’t rely on that terrifying demon over there.

Sure enough, Ji Yu looked at it and said, “Actually, it’s not that ugly. Let’s keep it for now.”

Seeing how hard it was trying, she decided not to kill it for the time being.

Jiang Shiqiu had no objections. “Then let’s keep it.”

The pufferfish finally breathed a sigh of relief, no longer daring to threaten Ji Yu. It obediently swam around the glass bottle, trying to show off its colorful scales.

From a distance, it looked like a rainbow trapped in the bottle, its vibrant colors very beautiful.

Ji Yu enjoyed her breakfast while admiring its scales, finding it quite interesting.

Perhaps due to Jiang Shiqiu’s intimidation or the pufferfish’s new role as a pet of the demon hunter, the following nights passed peacefully without any unwanted disturbances.

After five days of traveling by boat, they finally arrived at Wuhuan Mountain.