Chapter 7: Cool and Thin

The wind chimes beneath the eaves tinkled, signaling the imminent danger to the mistress’s life. These were the restrictions Yan Chaosheng had set in Liu shuang’s courtyard. Normally silent, they would ring one after another if she were in peril. Yan Chaosheng carried Liu shuang through the corridor back to the room: “Prepare some water.”

Soon, a few ghost servants with lowered heads appeared from nowhere and quickly brought in water. When Yan Chaosheng placed Liu shuang in the hot water, her entire body was corroded by ghostly energy, her eyelashes almost frosted over.

Yan Chaosheng, with a cold expression, spread his fingers and drew out the ghostly energy from her body. She shivered slightly from the cold, only after a while did she feel the warmth of the hot water.

Without a word, Yan Chaosheng’s fingers moved slightly, and Liu shuang’s clothes disintegrated, allowing her to fully immerse in the water.

Yan Chaosheng’s cold, scrutinizing gaze from above made Liu shuang feel a slight fear. She had never seen him so angry; not even when she had tried to challenge his limits by breaking into the Xiangze Palace.

The man’s long, pale hand caressed her neck: “If you don’t want this life, I can end it for you. Why go out in the ghost rain, saving me the trouble of rescuing you.”

He smiled slightly, a smile that was cold and filled with an intimidating chill: “Tell me, do you still want to live?”

Liu shuang couldn’t help but feel scared, vaguely understanding that this was the ruthless and cruel Demon Lord everyone feared.

She had liked him before, thinking Yan Chaosheng also liked her, thus she was reckless and fearless. But today’s helplessness made her see that before being her husband, this man was the Demon Lord that everyone in the Eight Desolations feared.

His anger was so evident, though his hand on her neck applied no pressure, Liu shuang still felt suffocated.

Married to him for a hundred years, it was the first time she was afraid of him.

Liu shuang moved her lips, under his interrogating gaze, instinctively wanting to explain, she just wanted to protect her home in the ghost realm, not intentionally inviting the ghost rain to bring him back, or to seek death.

But no sound came out, her teeth chattering.

All the fear seemed to gather in this moment, the fear of the day, the helplessness of near death.

She breathed rapidly, feeling she might die wrongfully.

Yan Chaosheng’s gaze remained cold, he stared at her, his fingers slowly tightening, Liu shuang thought she was really going to be strangled, instinctively struggling to pry his hand off, unexpectedly his fingertips emitted a soft white light, covering her slender neck, a warm sensation came through.

Liu shuang’s hand that was about to touch Yan Chaosheng’s froze, he was healing her.

She looked at his cold face, for some reason, what welled up in her heart was sorrow.

Yan Chaosheng lifted her chin, seeing the glaring wound on her body was gone.

She had unknowingly lost weight, he remembered when he first met Liu shuang a hundred years ago, her eyes were as clear as water grapes, her cheeks still had some baby fat. Now her cheeks were slim, becoming more beautiful, but the joy in her eyes had lessened, hiding a fear even he could see.

She was afraid of him.

He paused.

This was the first time Yan Chaosheng saw Liu shuang afraid of him. He was ruthless and domineering outside, the Eight Desolations never lacked people who feared him, this was normal for Yan Chaosheng. Even Fu Heng and Su Lun were no exception, only she, never feared him, always wanting to snuggle into his arms.

Now her clear eyes also held fear, because of the loss of trust, sprouting fear.

She feared him, even thinking he would really kill her.

He slowly let go, stepped back.

Actually, calming down, it was easy to figure everything out, why she would disregard the gale and ghost rain, appearing in the courtyard. She wasn’t intentionally opposing him, unwilling to explain, but an instinctive reaction under pressure.

Her true form, a little fairy grass, instinctively feared him, like a rabbit seeing a giant beast, trembling, teeth chattering, unable to even speak to explain.

Yan Chaosheng lowered his cold eyelids, and left with a wave of his sleeve.

He left, Liu shuang finally felt the warmth of the room, her stiff limbs could move. She saw her reflection in the water, the wound on her neck was gone, restored to its fair and tender state.

But Liu shuang knew, her real wound was not on her neck, but under her third rib, the heart.

Liu shuang washed herself, cleansing the ghost rain from her body, she dressed and came out, thinking Yan Chaosheng had left, but under the night pearl, Yan Chaosheng was still there.

He stood at the windowsill she often gazed from, vast spiritual energy pouring out into the courtyard.

Liu shuang didn’t know why, suddenly felt nervous, she watched holding her breath, under Yan Chaosheng’s palm, gradually, the seasons returned to spring, the rotten plants sprouted, the phoenix tree regained its vitality, fiery red flowers bloomed in the silent night, especially lively.

The corridor’s crystal lamps emitted a warm glow, a transparent barrier silently appeared above this piece of heaven and earth.

Her courtyard was back, no, even this time, no matter how heavy the ghost rain, it couldn’t ruin it.

Liu shuang looked at Yan Chaosheng with some confusion.

Yan Chaosheng had unknowingly retracted his hand, lay on the couch, his dark clothes not removed, his pale skin appeared cold, still that inherently cold demeanor.

Seeing her look at him, he opened his eyes, coldly saying: “Seen enough? Come over to sleep. Next time you run out in the middle of the night to get drenched in ghost rain, I might as well send you directly to the Thousand Blades Pool.”

She didn’t go over, stood still. When she said this, her fingers twisted tightly, the pain in her heart almost overflowing.

“Husband, if you don’t like me, you don’t have to do these things for me. You know, I’m not as smart as Lord Su Lun, to see through people’s hearts.”

He sneered, rolled his sleeve, pressed her into his arms.

“Too much free time, to think of such nonsense.” Yan Chaosheng said, “Don’t know who told you about Mie Chu, but you better understand. Even if I were more despicable, I wouldn’t be interested in stealing someone else’s consort.”

Liu shuang took a while to react, understanding Yan Chaosheng was indirectly explaining.

Her heart went up and down, after a long while, couldn’t help but ask: “Then why did you bring her back? And made Xiangze Palace a forbidden place?”

Yan Chaosheng chuckled, turned Liu shuang’s face over, making her lie on top of him.

“When I found her, she had already jumped into the Mirror of Ages, that thing leads to the mortal world, not rescuing her she would have scattered. Her father did me a favor, I once vowed by my heart demon, to take care of her if I ever reached a high position.” He paused, then said, “She doesn’t want to return to the heavenly realm, letting her stay in the ghost realm is not a long-term solution, after her soul is settled, we’ll send her away.”

If the day was a nightmare, now it felt like a beautiful dream.

Her heart and body, faster than her consciousness, showed her joy. She curved her eyes, hugged Yan Chaosheng’s lean waist. Her bright eyes reflected the light of the crystal lamps, like rising stars.

He covered her eyes, his tone caustic and gloomy: “Tone down the look, I haven’t settled the account of tonight’s rain with you yet.”

Even though he said that, now she was warm, and no longer felt afraid.

At that time, Liu shuang hadn’t fully understood, liking someone, is actually a matter of one moment born, one moment dead, one moment joy, one moment sorrow. Her joys and sorrows, all intricately tied to another person. If you like a good person, then it’s stable and happy, if you love a wolf-hearted person, it’s destined to be bumpy.

The stone hanging high in her heart, seemed to drop in an instant.

The fatigue from the ghost energy invasion hit her, she couldn’t even move Yan Chaosheng’s hand, to see what expression lay under his cold words.

Sleepiness made her almost lose consciousness, urgent footsteps came from the corridor.

The window lattice was knocked.

“Demon Lord, the mistress is still in pain after eating the gathered spirit snow lotus, please save her.”

Liu shuang, half-asleep, didn’t know if the voice was a dream or real. She instinctively gripped Yan Chaosheng’s sleeve.

A low laugh came from above.

The man said in a wild and cold tone: “Where are the ghost generals, since when can people randomly enter my bedchamber?”

The maid Xiaoqiu outside looked pale, soon, the ghost generals took Xiaoqiu away.

Yan Chaosheng looked at the curled figure in his arms, reached out to touch her soft pale cheek, realizing what he was doing, his eyes darkened, cooled down. With a wave of his hand, the night pearls in the room dimmed.

That night, was the most peaceful sleep Liu shuang had since he went out to battle three months ago.

Su Lun originally felt uneasy, but coming early in the morning, saw Mie Chu’s maid Xiaoqiu kneeling outside the hall.

He slightly narrowed his eyes, thoughtfully looked at Liu shuang’s bedchamber, the corner of his mouth curved deeper.

“Fairy Xiaoqiu, what are you doing here, if people knew, they would think our ghost realm is neglecting guests.”

Xiaoqiu saw it was him, instinctively bit her lip. She couldn’t explain why, always felt this person, seemingly humble and respectful, as if could see through everything, making one’s heart panic.

“The mistress’s soul is still unstable, this maid fears something might happen to her, specially came to request the Demon Lord.”

“Ah.” Su Lun opened his folding fan, “Then you’ve found the wrong person, currently, the treasures and elixirs for calming souls in the demon and ghost realms, the Demon Lord has all given to Consort Mie Chu, if those don’t work, the Demon Lord is probably powerless.”

“This maid, this maid is just worried, the mistress hasn’t woken up, this maid’s magic is low, afraid the mistress might perish with her soul unstable.”

Su Lun smiled and said: “Fairy Xiaoqiu, rest assured, not to mention the soul is about to scatter, even if it truly scattered, the Demon Lord would surely find a way to gather the soul. Fairy Xiaoqiu is as beautiful as a flower, and an immortal body, kneeling here might not be bearable, and might anger the Demon Lord, listen to Su Lun’s advice, go back and accompany your mistress.”

The ghost crows called several times, Xiaoqiu felt somewhat embarrassed under his teasing gaze.

The ghost realm’s sky was already bright, the Demon Lord hadn’t come out, Xiaoqiu knew her mission was a failure, she feared staying longer would be counterproductive, stood up and bowed to Su Lun: “This maid listens to Lord Su Lun.”

Su Lun raised an eyebrow, elegant and gentle, but said nothing.

Xiaoqiu left, but Su Lun stood outside the palace, until Yan Chaosheng came out of the bedchamber, he had been standing outside for a long time.

Yan Chaosheng saw him: “What’s the matter?”

Su Lun saluted, glanced at the towering phoenix tree not even the palace could hide, smiled: “If I’m not mistaken, this tree is already dead, Your Majesty used an illusion?”

Yan Chaosheng said: “If you’re here just to talk nonsense, I have a good job for you, go guard the Myriad Blaze Tower.”

Inside the Myriad Blaze Tower were a group of thousand-year-old big demons, all rebellious, traitors, with Su Lun’s cultivation, entering probably means coming out as a skeleton.

Su Lun’s smile stiffened, quickly said: “Of course I have important matters, this morning General Fu Heng almost killed me, those envoy demons, some refused to leave, said they had important matters to report, all pestered General Fu Heng. Your Majesty knows, this year is a yin year, the mortal world is full of disasters, the ghost realm is also ghostly, last night it rained ghost rain. And the demon realm, many big demons are restless, seems Your Majesty hasn’t returned to the demon realm for years, some have begun to plot, secretly making moves.”

Yan Chaosheng twitched the corner of his mouth, but his eyes showed no smile, instead a cold spread: “I haven’t returned for years, they probably forgot how the Myriad Blaze Tower was built. A bunch of wannabe rebels, but don’t dare.”

Su Lun also looked down on those people, but no matter who, alone, they were calamitous big demons, cannot be ignored.

Yan Chaosheng said: “Those envoy demons lingering in the ghost realm, have them learn to write memorials like mortals, after writing have Fu Heng bring them back, I’ll look at them slowly.”

Su Lun saluted: “Yes.”

Demons and ghost cultivators don’t do that, but sometimes have to admit, the mortal methods save time and effort.

Su Lun finished the official business, also mentioned what he saw about Xiaoqiu.

Yan Chaosheng didn’t comment.

“Why Consort Mie Chu jumped into the Mirror of Ages, is unknown. But I know, a hundred years have passed, Your Majesty and when you married the mistress, the state of mind is somewhat different.”

Yan Chaosheng said: “Are you saying, I’ve developed true feelings for her?”

Before Su Lun could speak, he seemed to find it funny, lightly laughed, his tone gentle, but with an inexplicable chill and danger: “Su Lun, do your job, don’t be clever, do you know what the ancient Xiangyao bloodline is?”

The ancient Xiangyao bloodline, also known as Xiangliu. Nine-headed demon snake, cruel and cold. They love killing, good at disguising, cold and poisonous, decisive and ruthless, extremely hard to move. No descendant of Xiangliu would wholeheartedly love someone.

Half of Yan Chaosheng’s bloodline, comes from Xiangliu.

Su Lun glanced at the towering phoenix tree, sighed in his heart. What you see is an illusion, what you say is a falsehood, you use her love for you to deal with her.

Hopefully, one day when you think of today’s situation, you won’t regret it.