Chapter 5: Dropped

The fierce wind whipped at Yan Chaosheng’s robes as Liu Shuang held onto the hem of his garment. “Husband, let’s take a stroll through the Ghost Realm before returning to the palace, shall we?”

Yan Chaosheng sheathed his long halberd but did not immediately respond.

Fu Heng followed behind him, unable to gauge the Demon Lord’s mood. No one had anticipated that the battle with Feng Fuming would last a full five days. Now, with the gates of the Ghost Realm wide open and myriad demons offering their congratulations, it was time to return to the palace and attend to official matters, not to indulge in trivial matters of romance.

But for Liu Shuang, the time she could spend alone with Yan Chaosheng was far too rare. She had waited for him for five days. Once they returned to the palace in the Ghost Realm, he would once again become the ruler of two realms, not just her husband.

If she didn’t seize this opportunity, she might not even have the chance to give him her gift. She reached into her bosom, feeling the ribbon she had woven with all her spiritual energy. It had been too long since they had spent any quality time together.

The corner of Yan Chaosheng’s mouth remained unchanged as he gently brushed her hand away, his voice returning to the cold tone of the Demon Lord. He casually wiped the bloodstains of Feng Fuming from his hand and said, “Another day. Su Lun, escort the Lady back.”

With that, he prepared to leave with Fu Heng.

Su Lun glanced at Liu Shuang, who had been left behind. Despite her obvious disappointment, she remained obedient and quiet, not making a fuss. He sighed inwardly and smiled, saying, “Lord Demon, there are still two hours before the banquet begins. We, your subordinates, will have everything prepared. Today is your birthday, and the Ghost Realm is undoubtedly bustling with activity. The Lady has been in the Ghost Realm for so long but has rarely ventured out. Why not take a short break and leave the rest to Fu Heng? I’m sure he won’t disappoint your expectations.”

His fox-like eyes turned to Fu Heng, and he added with a grin, “Isn’t that right, Fu Heng?”

Fu Heng’s mouth twitched. In his heart, he cursed this male fox spirit a thousand times, his stern face contorting for a moment. “Yes, I will ensure the demon envoys are well-behaved and cause no trouble.”

“See, even Fu Heng agrees. If he fails, punish him accordingly. Lord Demon, why not take the Lady on a tour of the Ghost Realm?”

Yan Chaosheng neither agreed nor disagreed. Liu Shuang’s delicate face was pale, her exhaustion making her appear fragile. When Su Lun spoke on her behalf, she looked at him with eyes that seemed to speak, glistening with unshed tears.

Yan Chaosheng knew that even if he refused, she would only be briefly disappointed. The next time she saw him, she would be cheerful again, her eyes lighting up.

She didn’t need him to comfort her; she could console herself.

The corner of his eye lifted slightly, and for some reason, he suddenly said to her, “Today, the hundred ghosts roam the streets, and the roads are filled with them.”

Liu Shuang was momentarily stunned but then understood his meaning. A smile spread across her eyes, and she shook her head vigorously. “With you here, I’m not afraid.”

“Hmm.” Yan Chaosheng didn’t turn his head, his voice indifferent as he said, “Fu Heng, if any demon envoys cause trouble, bring me their heads.”

Fu Heng glanced at Su Lun, who was fanning himself with a graceful demeanor, and gritted his teeth, clasping his fists. “Understood.”

The eaves of the Ghost Realm were adorned with black silk ribbons.

Once a year, the usually gloomy Ghost Realm became its most lively. To everyone, Yan Chaosheng was an exemplary ruler. He had quelled the injustices of the Eight Desolations and established a prosperous era for both the demon and ghost realms.

Like a founding emperor of the mortal world, he was deeply revered.

Liu Shuang walked alongside Yan Chaosheng through the streets of the Ghost Realm, watching ghostly children run about. Faces of those coming and going carried faint smiles.

Her heart swelled with pride for Yan Chaosheng, warm and bubbling.

It was Liu Shuang’s first time walking on such a lively street in the Ghost Realm. Unlike the mortal world, the colors here were darker, and the goods sold even included bone-crafted magical instruments.

Everything seemed incredibly novel to her.

She wasn’t averse to liveliness, but her immortal body was out of place in the Ghost Realm. At a glance, it was clear she wasn’t a ghost cultivator, and without protection, she could easily fall into danger. Knowing Yan Chaosheng’s busy schedule, she had obediently stayed in her courtyard, not venturing out to avoid causing him trouble.

After walking a short distance, many lustful gazes fell upon her. To them, the little immortal grass was no less tempting than a sweet pastry.

Yan Chaosheng’s cold eyes swept over them. Many ghost cultivators had never seen their ruler, but the intense pressure emanating from him forced them to avert their eyes. His battle robes were still on, and from a distance, he appeared as a powerful ghost cultivator brimming with killing intent. In the Ghost Realm, strength was respected, and soon, those malevolent gazes disappeared.

Yan Chaosheng noticed that the person beside him had fallen behind. He turned and saw Liu Shuang looking in a certain direction.

At the corner of a deep blue building on the street, a seductive female cultivator, with half her chest exposed, was entwined with a male ghost cultivator, kissing passionately.

His little immortal grass consort was watching intently.

Noticing Liu Shuang’s gaze, the female cultivator threw her a suggestive wink. Startled, Liu Shuang hurried to his side. “Husband.”

Yan Chaosheng knew her upbringing was different. Her mortal mother had taught her the hypocritical ways of mortals. And mortals, for the most part, feared and despised ghost cultivators. Though Yan Chaosheng now ruled both realms, he couldn’t change others’ opinions, nor would he kill a bunch of insignificant ants.

His nature was cold, and his tone carried a hint of mockery. “Scared already? You’ve been here for a hundred years. Has no one told you that demon and ghost cultivators are inherently licentious? If you’re truly scared, then return…” After all, such scenes were everywhere in the Ghost Realm.

He didn’t finish his sentence, realizing it wasn’t the case.

Her eyes were filled with eagerness.

Yan Chaosheng fell silent for a moment, his voice hard. “What’s that look in your eyes?”

She said, “Husband, could we…” She glanced at his long, pale fingers hidden beneath his battle robes and extended her small hand, indicating for him to hold it.

He scoffed. “Improper. I am the Demon Lord.”

Liu Shuang thought for a moment, then bought a white jade mask from a nearby vendor. Standing on her tiptoes, she placed it on his face. She studied him from side to side; even with his face concealed, the Demon Lord’s noble aura remained.

“Now no one will recognize you.”

Liu Shuang couldn’t see the expression beneath the mask, only his dark, cold, starry eyes.

They stood in a stalemate for a while, then her hand was enveloped by a cold, pale one. Liu Shuang’s lips curled into a smile, which she quickly suppressed. There were ghost cultivators who weren’t licentious after all.

As they walked to the liveliest area, Liu Shuang remembered the brocade box in her bosom. “Husband, I have…”

Before she could finish, a maid knelt before Yan Chaosheng in panic. “Lord Demon, something terrible has happened! Without the Life Jade Bamboo, the Mingxi Pearl can’t suppress it. The master is in trouble!”

Liu Shuang was momentarily stunned. She had never seen this maid before. She wasn’t a ghost cultivator but carried an aura of immortal spirit.

Yan Chaosheng’s voice was icy. “What?”

Liu Shuang felt her hand being released, and in the blink of an eye, Yan Chaosheng disappeared with the maid.

He had forgotten her by his side, leaving without a word of comfort or a backward glance.

The white jade mask fell at Liu Shuang’s feet with a crisp sound. There was no scorching sun in the Ghost Realm, only a bone-chilling wind that blew against her.

In the shadows, many dark eyes locked onto her. A cold, stench-filled presence approached from behind.

Liu Shuang turned in panic. A cloaked ghost cultivator reached out to her, cackling. “Since he’s not by your side, we won’t hold back.”

He drooled. “So fragrant, so fragrant, the immortal aura.”

Not just him, other ghost cultivators surged forward, eager to get a share. In the palace, Liu Shuang had never seen so many ghost cultivators. It was like stepping from bright daylight into a terrifying abyss.

Countless pale hands reached for her, some mere skeletons. Liu Shuang tried to summon her immortal magic to fend them off, but all her spiritual energy, along with her love for Yan Chaosheng, had been poured into the brocade box. She was almost defenseless as someone grabbed her neck and dragged her forward.

Someone said, “Wang Zhen, we all saw her. If you eat her alone, aren’t you afraid that ghost cultivator will come back for revenge?”

The ghost cultivator laughed sinisterly. “Afraid? If he truly cared for her, would he have left her here?”

His words pierced the thoughts Liu Shuang least wanted to confront. Her face turned pale as she looked at the discarded white jade mask on the ground.

It all happened in an instant—Yan Chaosheng had abandoned her.

Her expression was hollow and bewildered. Liu Shuang felt as if she were in an absurd dream. Unfortunately, the hand on her neck, almost freezing her skin, told her this was no nightmare.

The brocade box in her hand was knocked over, falling to the ground.

She frantically reached out, instinctively trying to protect it. But the box had opened, and the ribbon had fallen out.

She watched helplessly as countless feet trampled over it, the bright blue now filthy.

The hand on her neck tightened, the bones almost piercing her flesh. She merely looked at the trampled brocade box, not shedding a tear.

Just as Liu Shuang thought she might die in the next moment, the ghost cultivators seemed to sense danger and scattered in a frenzy.

A fan sliced through the throat of the ghost cultivator gripping her. The ghost cultivator let out a scream, turning into a black mist, and the fan returned to its owner’s hand.

Su Lun said, “Lady…” His voice was filled with pity and a sigh.

Liu Shuang didn’t speak, crouching down, coughing violently, and picking up the soiled ribbon. She patted the dirt off, but it wouldn’t come clean.

Su Lun conjured a brocade robe and draped it over her. “Lady, the street winds are harsh. Shall I escort you back?”

She nodded, as obedient as she had been every day and night for the past hundred years, not causing trouble for anyone, walking behind him.

Su Lun’s smile faded as he spoke words that even he found forced and difficult. “Lady, please forgive me. Something major has happened in the Ghost Realm, and the Lord Demon had to rush back. He left me and Changhuan with you. You won’t be in any danger. Today’s incident was my fault, and I will accept any punishment you deem fit.”

Liu Shuang remained silent for a long time.

Su Lun didn’t dare turn around. Even a thousand-year-old demon like him was afraid to see a tear-streaked face.

After a while, her soft voice came from behind.

“Lord Su Lun.”

Su Lun turned and saw her pale face.

Surprisingly, there were no tears. She clutched the dirty ribbon tightly and asked in a tone so earnest it was heartbreaking, “Does my husband not love me? You’ve been lying to me, haven’t you?”

No matter how naive and innocent she was, she knew that love wasn’t like this.

It didn’t mean leaving coldly at someone else’s words, abandoning her in the midst of wolves.