Chapter 4: Heavenly Lord

Liu shuang made up her mind and felt a sense of relief wash over her.

After getting dressed and finding that Yan Chaosheng was nowhere to be seen, she asked the ghost cultivators in the main hall, who replied, “This subordinate does not know where the Demon Lord has gone.”

Determined to get an answer, she turned and ran towards the Xiangze Palace. After all, she had already barged in once before, and her husband hadn’t thrown her into the water prison. This realization emboldened her.

Behind her, four strong rhinoceros demons left by Yan Chaosheng followed at a distance, not restraining her but keeping an eye on her as she ran to the outskirts of the Bone Forest.

Just as she was about to enter, she seemed to hit a thick barrier and was bounced back.

One of the rhinoceros demons grabbed her by the collar, catching her, and grunted, “Be careful, My Lady.” After transforming, most demons retained characteristics of their lineage, and these rhinoceros demons were as massive as small mountains.

Each of them was twice her size.

Liu shuang rubbed her forehead and looked at the barrier before her. It hadn’t been there last night but had appeared out of nowhere this morning.

She glanced at the four subordinates, pointed at the barrier, and signaled for them to open it.

The rhinoceros demon said, “My Lady, forgive us. We are powerless. First, we dare not trespass into the forbidden area, and second, we cannot break this barrier.”

She bit her lip. “Go find Lord Su lun.”

Having made up her mind, Liu shuang was determined not to evade the issue. If they couldn’t do it, Su lun, as Yan Chaosheng’s trusted aide, surely could.

Not long after, Su lun arrived, fan in hand. He clasped his hands and greeted with a smile, “My Lady.”

“Lord Su lun, could you help me open this barrier?”

Su lun looked at the barrier outside the Bone Forest and drawled, “Ah, My Lady, you’re putting me in a difficult position. The Demon Lord’s barrier is not something my meager cultivation can break.”

“You’re so clever, you must have a way. If anything happens, I’ll take full responsibility and not implicate you.”

“My Lady, you jest. I’m not afraid of being implicated.” Su lun stroked his chin, his eyes glinting. “What does My Lady wish to do by trespassing into the forbidden area?”

Liu shuang pressed her lips together and remained silent. This was a matter between her and Yan Chaosheng, not something to be discussed with Su lun.

“My Lady wants to know who lives inside?” Su lun raised an eyebrow. “There’s no need to go through such trouble or risk upsetting the Demon Lord. If My Lady wishes to know, you can simply ask me.”

“You know?”

“Naturally.”

Liu shuang said, “Then could you tell me, Lord Su lun?”

“My Lady’s command, I dare not disobey. As you know, before the Demon Lord became the ruler, he had a difficult youth. People tend to fawn over the powerful and trample the weak, so those who showed him kindness were especially rare. The person the Demon Lord brought back this time is the descendant of one such benefactor. The descendant has fallen on hard times, and the Demon Lord, not being heartless, naturally wouldn’t abandon them. This person’s identity is special, and they are being hunted by the Heavenly Realm, so it’s inconvenient for them to stay outside. That’s why the Demon Lord has placed them in the Xiangze Palace, ordered to take care of them, and the ghost cultivators have been sworn to secrecy. Now, their spirit is damaged, and they are very weak, recuperating inside.”

Liu shuang was stunned.

“My Lady doesn’t believe me?” Su lun smiled and took out a colorful stone from his waist. “I have a Truth Stone here. It can prove that I’m not lying.”

With that, the Truth Stone glowed a steady green.

If it had turned crimson, it would have indicated a lie, but the bright green proved that every word was true.

So that’s how it was. Liu shuang felt embarrassed under Su lun’s amused gaze, realizing she had probably misunderstood Yan Chaosheng again.

It wasn’t entirely her fault… After all, no one dared to discuss the Demon Lord’s past openly. This was the first time she had heard someone speak so candidly about it, learning that he had once had a benefactor who had shown him great kindness.

Having understood the situation, Liu shuang felt deeply ashamed. No wonder her husband had been so angry yesterday. Her willfulness had nearly harmed the descendant of his benefactor.

Su lun winked at her. “Does My Lady still feel upset? Do you still want me to find a way to break the barrier for you?”

Liu shuang quickly shook her head. She couldn’t possibly harm someone.

Su lun chuckled softly. “Then My Lady should go back and rest. The Demon Lord’s birthday is approaching. When the time comes, you can happily celebrate with him, alright?”

Liu shuang curved her lips, her eyes forming crescents as she smiled. “Thank you, Lord Su lun.”

Su lun closed his fan and bowed. “I bid My Lady farewell.”

Remembering that she had only just started weaving the heavenly silk and that Yan Chaosheng’s birthday was in five days, Liu shuang felt a pang of regret. After saying goodbye to Su lun, she returned to her chambers.

Su lun watched her walk away, tapping his fan against his palm.

The ghostly spirit behind him murmured, “Lord Su lun’s rhetoric is truly impressive. The way you guided the conversation actually put My Lady’s mind at ease.”

“Don’t flatter me. I spoke nothing but the truth, every word of it.” Su lun lightly tapped the barrier with his fan, wondering if the Demon Lord would come to his senses before the situation escalated.

It pained him to always manipulate such an innocent soul.

Having learned the truth from Su lun, Liu shuang devoted herself to preparing a birthday gift for Yan Chaosheng.

She sat on the swing, threading silver thread through a hairband, when a thunderous roar echoed across the sky. The crimson heavens seemed to tear open, revealing streaks of lightning.

Her swing jerked violently, throwing her to the ground.

Changhuan, startled, forgot to walk and floated over instantly, helping her up. “My Lady, are you hurt?”

Liu shuang shook her head. “I’m fine. What’s happening? There’s thunder and lightning in the Ghost Realm?”

She looked up at the sky, where one after another, purplish-red streaks appeared, as if the heavens of the Ghost Realm were about to shatter. In her decades in the Ghost Realm, she had never seen such a phenomenon.

Changhuan frowned. “Someone is attacking the Ghost Realm.”

Attacking the Ghost Realm? Liu shuang was shocked.

Yan Chaosheng was notoriously arrogant. It was always others who feared him, treading carefully in his presence, terrified that one day the Demon Lord might decide to launch an attack.

Yet now, someone had the audacity to come knocking, and they had turned the skies of the Ghost Realm into such a state.

“My Lady, don’t worry. With the Demon Lord here, that fool won’t dare to cause further trouble.”

“Let’s go take a look.” Liu shuang was worried about him. She put down what she was holding and walked to the entrance of the Ghost Realm, the base of Mount Qingcang. The tremors here were even more intense, giving the illusion that the gates of the Ghost Realm might be forced open. For some reason, she thought of the person who had injured Yan Chaosheng.

She turned and saw Yan Chaosheng in silver battle armor.

His expression was cold, and behind him followed the Ghost Realm’s general, Fuheng, and a host of other commanders, all marching out. When he saw her, he frowned slightly.

Another deafening boom shook the ground, and she nearly lost her balance. Yan Chaosheng wrapped an arm around her waist to steady her and commanded curtly, “Go back.”

“Husband, is it the person who hurt you before? Are you in danger?”

Yan Chaosheng scoffed, his arrogance spanning centuries. “Him? I only took a sword to the shoulder, but I shattered eight of his bones.”

“Is there a way to break five of his bones without getting hurt?”

He raised an eyebrow and laughed.

“There is. I’ll go out and make him cry.”

Liu shuang rarely saw him like this, brimming with battle intent. Even the silver halberd in his hand gleamed brilliantly, humming with energy. Where it touched his palm, dark flames flickered.

The ghost cultivators of the Ghost Realm were all remarkably calm, showing no fear. It was as if, with their ruler present, anyone who dared to challenge them was doomed.

Her husband was a warrior at heart, and the rumors were true. Yet, standing tall and straight, holding a silver halberd, he bore no resemblance to the venomous half-snake demon of legend.

To her, he looked absolutely magnificent. She smiled, her eyes curving. “Be careful, husband.”

Afraid of causing him trouble, she swayed unsteadily as she walked back to her chambers amidst the tremors of the Ghost Realm. Suddenly, an arm wrapped around her waist, and the next moment, she was hoisted onto someone’s shoulder.

Liu shuang was startled, staring at the ground in surprise. “Husband?”

He said, “It’s no trouble. I’ll take you back first.”

Yan Chaosheng set her down on the swing in the courtyard. Seeing her wide-eyed, incredulous yet utterly obedient expression, he laughed heartily. “Wait here. I’ll go peel off a few of his scales and bring them back for you to play with.”

His figure transformed into a streak of dark light and vanished in an instant.

Liu shuang touched her chest, feeling as if a little deer was prancing inside, her heart pounding. She recalled the biographies that criticized Yan Chaosheng for his love of slaughter and his cruelty.

But perhaps the dizziness from the shaking skies had clouded her mind, because for the first time, she thought that perhaps his love for battle and his cruelty… weren’t so bad after all.

It was, well, quite impressive.

After Yan Chaosheng left, the Ghost Realm returned to normal. Liu shuang called for Changhuan. “Do you know who is attacking the Ghost Realm?”

Changhuan hesitated for a moment before answering, “My Lady, it’s the Heavenly Lord, Feng Fuming.”

“Feng Fuming…” This name was not unfamiliar to Liu shuang. Grandfather Tree often spoke of this Heavenly Realm ruler. Back then, he wasn’t the Heavenly Lord but the Crown Prince. Grandfather Tree said he was young, capable, and dashing. No wonder her husband said he would bring back his scales for her. Feng Fuming had the bloodline of an ancient Yinglong dragon, so his true form was likely that of a dragon.

Over the decades, Yan Chaosheng had mostly been at war with him.

This Heavenly Lord was born into nobility, with exceptional talent. It had taken Yan Chaosheng nearly a century to establish a peace treaty with him. But why had the Heavenly Lord suddenly attacked the Ghost Realm?

“My Lady, don’t worry. Feng Fuming is no match for the Demon Lord.”

Liu shuang nodded and glanced in the direction of the Xiangze Palace. Was it because of the descendant of the benefactor that the Heavenly Lord had declared war on the Ghost Realm? Her husband had done the right thing. They were not ungrateful people and would protect this guest well.

A battle between immortals and demons often lasted a long time. Occasionally, a streak of lightning would streak across the sky, but for them, it was just a fleeting moment. However, for Liu shuang, who was accustomed to human timekeeping, five days passed in the blink of an eye.

The Demon Lord’s birthday was tomorrow. Changhuan drew the curtains. “My Lady, should you get some rest? You haven’t slept in five days since the Demon Lord went to battle.”

“It’s alright.” Staying in the Ghost Realm, even without doing anything, her spiritual energy would gradually deplete.

She wanted to wait for Yan Chaosheng. Her husband had said he would bring back scales for her. If she fell asleep, she wouldn’t know if he got hurt.

Finally, Changhuan said happily, “My Lady, I heard the Demon Lord has repelled the Heavenly Army. The Red Falcon is returning to the Ghost Realm.”

Liu shuang’s drowsiness vanished. The hairband she had been working on was finally finished, and this time, it was different from the past. Previously, her husband had always been away at war, so in her gifts, she had woven layer upon layer of protective charms, wishing for his safety.

This time, it was a token of enduring love.

One after another, golden talismans gently floated into the hairband. Her cultivation wasn’t particularly high, and weaving a band filled with blessings had nearly drained all her excess spiritual energy.

Liu shuang raised her hand, noticing that her skin was no longer as radiant and smooth as before, resembling a withered little fairy grass. But Liu shuang wasn’t sad; she was happy. When Yan Chaosheng received this gift, he would understand her feelings.

As Changhuan had said, they could now peacefully have a little prince. The child of the Demon Lord would surely be handsome and powerful.

She rubbed her cheeks and carefully placed the hairband in a brocade box, then carried it to Mount Qingcang to welcome Yan Chaosheng.

At the foot of Mount Qingcang, ghost crows cawed, and the long bells tolled in unison as the gates of the Ghost Realm swung open.

Liu shuang looked up to see countless envoys from the demon realm flooding into the Ghost Realm.

She hadn’t noticed that the sky had already brightened. Today was Yan Chaosheng’s birthday. Beneath the dark clouds, he sat astride the Red Falcon, clad in silver armor, a lazy smile playing on his lips as he gazed down arrogantly at the world.

“Congratulations to the Demon Lord on his triumphant return!”

A hundred ghosts and ten thousand demons chanted in unison, kneeling in reverence.

Liu shuang’s gauzy violet dress fluttered in the wind, its hem adorned with budding flowers, the purple fabric trailing on the ground.

She stood at the mountain’s entrance, like a speck of dust merging into a surging tide. Demons and ghost cultivators revered strength above all. Many of them carried the bloodlines of ancient demon clans, their cultivation immense, willing to shed blood rather than bow to others.

Yet they all knelt willingly before him, submitting as loyal subjects.

He dismounted from the Red Falcon.

Liu shuang held the brocade box. Could she truly spend her life with someone so incomparably powerful?

She looked down at her fingers, pale and almost translucent after using her spiritual energy. Every day spent in the Ghost Realm with him quietly drained her lifespan. If one day she lost Yan Chaosheng’s care and protection, she would, as Grandfather Tree had said, be devoured by the Ghost Realm, leaving not even a trace of bones.

Liu shuang smiled softly, but she didn’t feel it was a loss, nor was she disheartened. She couldn’t take the ruler of two realms back to live at Blue Lake, so she would stay by his side, year after year.