Author: hoenibean (Page 36 of 78)

Chapter 29

 

Si Lan and Haowei hurriedly made their way to Baixiang Garden. As they approached, they heard a melodious tune resonating within the courtyard.

 

“Behind the red gates, a young lord leans gracefully, sipping wine from a jade goblet.”

 

The voice was as smooth as water, gentle and pleasant, resembling a woman’s, yet more enchanting than one.

 

Si Lan and Haowei squeezed through the crowd and saw the courtyard adorned with lanterns, casting dancing shadows. Taoyuan, dressed in a red wedding gown, had a delicate and slender figure. His movements were graceful and tender, as if he were on a stage. With half-closed eyes, he sang a song with an absentminded look.

 

“Ask the music-loving lady and her lord, love and anger make a perfect couple. The young lord flees with flushed cheeks, the lady dances, enchantingly and smiling…”

 

The song seemed to narrate the first encounter of Taoyuan and Peijia.

 

Peijia leaned against the wall, watching as the lovely Xiao Lian sang the song next door. He teasingly asked if Xiao Lian was a man or a woman, and Xiao Lian playfully scolded him as her husband, which sent Peijia running in a fluster.

 

Peijia slowly reached out his hand towards the singer, his arms trembling slightly due to excitement. He embraced Taoyuan and choked out his name.

 

“Taoyuan…”

 

But Taoyuan seemed oblivious to his words, continuing to sing intermittently.

 

“Taoyuan, I’m Peijia. Look at me…”

 

Peijia called Taoyuan softly, but Taoyuan remained in a dazed state, showing no response. Peijia looked at Si Lan with teary eyes. “Doctor Si, what’s happening to him?”

 

Si Lan approached Taoyuan, placing his hand on Taoyuan’s Baihui acupoint, and realized that Taoyuan’s body was now under the control of a strong obsession.

That was a lingering obsession of Taoyuan that persisted even after his death.

 

Previously, Taoyuan’s body had been overtaken by impurities, preventing this obsession from entering his body. Later, Si Lan eliminated all the impurities near the General’s Mansion, allowing this obsession to regain control over Taoyuan’s body.

 

Si Lan didn’t respond to Peijia’s question. Instead, he asked, “General Pei, what is the song that Taoyuan is singing?”

 

“It’s ‘Playing with Peijia,'” Peijia replied with a moment of melancholy in his expression. “It’s a song Taoyuan composed himself to commemorate our first meeting.”

 

Si Lan frowned, realizing that Taoyuan’s obsession was related to their initial encounter. Resolving this obsession might briefly restore Taoyuan’s consciousness. Perhaps only Taoyuan’s words could make Peijia accept the fact that Taoyuan was already gone.

 

“Be careful,” Si Lan warned.

 

While Si Lan was deep in thought, Haowei suddenly grabbed his elbow.

 

In the next instant, a surge of malevolent energy rushed towards them, causing everyone to be knocked down by the energy, screaming in fear. The malevolent energy swept through the crowd and swiftly took Taoyuan’s body as if it were lightning fast.

 

Si Lan, followed by Haowei, immediately used their magic to chase after the malevolent energy. In the distant sky, a massive black cloud of malevolent energy roiled, and once Taoyuan’s body was absorbed into it, it quickly disappeared.

 

Si Lan entered the malevolent energy, and in an instant, everything turned black, with no visibility. Si Lan swiftly used his techniques to dispel the rolling malevolent energy, clearing the sky.

 

However, Taoyuan’s figure was nowhere to be seen.

 

“He went back,” Haowei said in a low voice and turned back.

 

Si Lan followed him without hesitation. As they got closer to the General’s Mansion, he felt the familiar malevolent energy again.

 

This cunning demon knew that the most dangerous place was often the safest!

 

Haowei landed in the General’s Mansion’s backyard, with Si Lan landing behind him.

 

The courtyard was overgrown with weeds, the walls were dilapidated, and the cold moonlight cast eerie shadows, making the surroundings appear sinister. It seemed to be an abandoned garden.

 

Si Lan spoke in a hushed tone and stepped forward, asking, “Are you sure it’s here?”

 

“Yes,” Haowei replied.

 

Si Lan concentrated and carefully observed the surroundings.

 

Tattered pieces of burial paper rustled in the night wind, a wooden door lay on the threshold, and the room was half bathed in moonlight, half drowned in shadows. Cobwebs swayed from the ceiling, and dust covered the floor, giving the appearance of nothing unusual.

 

But just as he turned to leave, he suddenly struck a palm at the person hidden behind the door crack.

 

The person had hidden their form, thinking they were safe when Si Lan turned away, but they were taken by surprise and struck by Si Lan’s palm.

 

The person grunted and quickly transformed into a black mist, trying to escape.

 

Si Lan, however, accurately seized the essence of that black mist with his hand. A cry of pain came from within.

 

“My lord… It hurts…”

 

The black mist gradually dispersed, revealing a man in white clothes with black hair. The man’s neck was still being held by Si Lan, and he was gasping for breath, his expression distorted and his face red from choking.

 

Si Lan released his grip, and the man in white clothes immediately clutched his throat, gasping for air.

 

“My lord, you were quite ruthless,” he complained.

 

Si Lan was astonished that the intruder causing chaos in the General’s Mansion was none other than Song Ye, who had been paralyzed for over a hundred years.

 

Si Lan gritted his teeth and looked around.

 

Then, another person, presumably realizing that they could no longer hide, revealed their form and silently approached Si Lan.

 

“I greet my lord,” Song Cheng said, with no signs of embarrassment at being caught, and he made a respectful bow.

 

Si Lan was getting increasingly furious. “What are the two of you doing here?”

 

“My lord, we came to the General’s Mansion to remove the Dayong Curse,” Song Ye explained after catching his breath.

 

“Oh, I see. So why were you sneaking around and not willing to meet me?” Si Lan asked.

 

Song Ye glanced at Song Cheng as if they were coordinating their stories, but Song Cheng seemed unwilling to continue the deception and said, “We seek your forgiveness, my lord. The Dayong was released when Song Ye and I were fighting, and we accidentally broke the seal on it.”

 

Song Cheng explained that while they were pursuing each other, they had reached Dayong Mountain. During their fight, they inadvertently shattered Dayong Mountain, which released Dayong. After realizing the gravity of the situation, they followed Dayong into the human realm and arrived at the General’s Mansion.

 

For the past few days, they had been hiding in the General’s Mansion, trying to find a way to break the Dayong Curse. When they sensed Si Lan’s presence, Song Ye suggested concealing their presence and acting discreetly.

 

After all, if Si Lan found out that the malevolent creature causing havoc in the human realm was released by them, he might have executed them immediately.

 

Song Ye had no reservations but was concerned about his brother. After all, his brother was deeply fond of Si Lan.

 

Thinking of this, Song Ye closed his eyes and looked desperate. “My lord, it has nothing to do with my brother. It was I who inadvertently broke the seal on Dayong Mountain.”

 

Song Cheng, with an expressionless face, continued, “My lord, it’s not his fault. It’s my recklessness; otherwise, Dayong wouldn’t have been released.”

 

“No, it’s my mistake. It’s all my fault. It’s because I couldn’t control my sword for a moment that I accidentally split Dayong Mountain open.”

 

Si Lan watched the touching scene of these two brothers, who usually had a poor relationship, now fighting to take responsibility when trouble arose. He wasn’t sure whether to be moved or angry.

 

These two brothers were always like this, having a strained relationship in their daily interactions, but once something happened, they would compete to shoulder the blame.

 

Si Lan was about to speak when Haowei, who had been silent all along, suddenly said, “The Dayong matter has nothing to do with them.”

 

Song Ye looked at Haowei, not knowing who this mysterious figure with the veil was, but upon hearing him speak in their favor, his face immediately lit up with a smile. He was about to express his gratitude, but then Haowei added coldly, “Their cultivation is too low to break the seal on Dayong.”

 

Song Ye remained silent.

 

For some reason, Si Lan felt an inexplicable trust in Haowei’s words. Relieved that it wasn’t his two subordinates’ fault, he still maintained a stern expression and asked, “Where is Taoyuan, and why did you capture him?”

Song Cheng cast a spell, and Taoyuan’s physical body gradually appeared, hovering in mid-air.

 

At this moment, Taoyuan had closed his eyes, his face pale, but his cheeks were unusually red, like a human puppet.

 

Song Ye explained, “My lord, we suspect that Dayong was summoned by him after his death. That’s why we wanted to capture him and force him to break the curse.”

 

Si Lan glanced at Song Ye but didn’t confirm or deny it. He walked to Taoyuan and noticed that the lingering obsession inside him was gone.

 

Perhaps it had been frightened away by Song Ye, or perhaps its time had expired.

 

The obsession could enter the physical body, but the time it spent inside was limited, and the presence of excessive Yang energy around the body prevented the obsession from entering.

 

“You two…” Si Lan sighed. “You’re becoming bolder and bolder.” If he hadn’t received a message from the Heaven-Sent Monkey Spirit to come to the mortal realm to investigate, they might have continued hiding it from him.

 

While they hadn’t directly released Dayong, they should have informed him as soon as they discovered the malevolent creature wreaking havoc in the mortal realm, rather than keeping it hidden due to fear of punishment.

 

If their actions caused harm to the mortal realm, both Si Lan and they would be held accountable.

 

Song Cheng immediately knelt and bowed, apologizing, “My lord, I was wrong in this matter. Please punish me.”

 

Song Ye looked at Song Cheng, hesitated for a moment, and reluctantly knelt as well, saying, “My lord, you can punish me.”

 

“Don’t worry,” Si Lan said sternly, “Both of you will face punishment, but for now, return to the Demon Realm. Each of you will receive 100 lashes and be banned for three years.”

 

“My lord, can we stay by your side and serve you until the Dayong curse is lifted, and then we’ll accept our punishment?” Song Cheng raised his head, his eyes slightly red, pleading.

 

Song Ye heard his brother’s plea and added, “Yes, my lord, we can assist you in any way you need.”

 

“You shouldn’t think you can make amends by helping. Even if you manage to lift the Dayong curse, you will still face punishment when you return,” Si Lan warned. While he generally didn’t get angry, when he did, it was not easily appeased.

 

Song Cheng, upon hearing this, immediately thanked Si Lan, and Song Ye pursed his lips, following his brother’s lead in apologizing.

 

At this moment, Peijia heard the commotion in the backyard and led a group of servants to investigate.

 

When he saw Taoyuan, Peijia rushed over, embraced him tightly, his eyes filled with obsession. “Taoyuan… Taoyuan… How can this happen? Lord Si Lan, why has Taoyuan fallen asleep again?”

 

Si Lan explained, “General Pei, don’t worry. Lady Taoyuan will wake up again.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“That’s good, that’s good,” Peijia muttered, seemingly lost in his own world, where only Taoyuan existed, and there was no one else.

 

“General Pei, the Yin energy is strongest at the third quarter of the night,” Si Lan said. “At that time, Lady Taoyuan may wake up again. But it would be helpful if you could recreate the scene of your first encounter, which could stimulate her consciousness.”

 

The lingering obsession in Taoyuan had been singing “Playing with Peijia” repeatedly, suggesting that it was deeply attached to their initial meeting. If Peijia played the role of the young man on the wall, it might trigger the obsession and awaken Taoyuan.

 

“Alright,” Peijia responded, and he quickly left with Taoyuan in his arms. His attention never strayed from Taoyuan, and he seemed to have not noticed the two extra people who had appeared suddenly or perhaps noticed them but was too preoccupied with Taoyuan to question who had taken Taoyuan’s body away.

 

Si Lan watched Peijia’s distraught appearance with mixed feelings. Once Taoyuan’s consciousness returned, he and Peijia would be separated again.

 

However, if they didn’t wake her up, Taoyuan’s body and obsession wouldn’t remain in the mortal realm for long, and sooner or later, they would have to deal with the situation of separating the two lovers.

 

Peijia instructed his servants to set up a simple stage in the inner courtyard, repaint the walls, and plant green bamboo to recreate the scene of their first meeting.

 

When the third quarter of the night arrived, Taoyuan, who had been lying in bed, slowly sat up. His eyes seemed clouded, unfocused, and lacked expression.

 

He walked to the stage, swaying his slender figure, and gently waved his sleeves. His voice was as clear and melodious as pearls and jade.

 

“At the vermilion gates, under the carved window, Peijia leans against the par4p3t…”

 

However, it seemed that Taoyuan hadn’t seen Peijia leaning against the wall. He continued singing the song, seemingly oblivious to Peijia’s presence.

 

Peijia descended from the wall, his eyes red, and his lips quivering slightly. He stared at Taoyuan, who remained unresponsive, seemingly unaffected.

 

“Taoyuan… Please, stop singing,” Peijia suddenly embraced Taoyuan from behind, his back slightly hunched, his chin resting on Taoyuan’s shoulder. “Please, stop singing…”

 

Peijia closed his eyes and a tear rolled down his pale and sunken face.

 

Taoyuan still didn’t react to him until the lingering obsession finally left his body and fell into Peijia’s embrace.

 

The steward asked, “Lord Si Lan, what’s going on? Why hasn’t Lady Taoyuan awakened?”

 

“The lingering obsession of Lady Taoy

 

uan doesn’t seem to be related to their initial meeting,” Si Lan said, furrowing his brows. He couldn’t understand why Taoyuan had been singing the song commemorating their first encounter repeatedly.

 

Peijia, looking at Si Lan, with a hint of despair in his eyes, said, “What should we do to save Taoyuan now?”

 

“Find the root of her obsession,” Si Lan said. “So, General Pei, you need to carefully think about what in that song could be Lady Taoyuan’s obsession.”

 

Peijia raised his head, his lips curled in a self-deprecating smile. “Alright, allow me to think about it carefully.” He then carried Taoyuan and walked toward the Lakeheart Pavilion, focused on his beloved, with no attention spared for the two unexpected figures in the courtyard.

The servants each returned to their rooms, and Si Lan and his companions also retired to their quarters.

 

After the commotion, everyone felt a bit exhausted. However, due to the influence of the Dayong curse, they were both fatigued and unable to sleep, their bodies feeling extremely uncomfortable.

 

Si Lan rubbed his temples, trying to ease his headache, while still wrestling with the matter of Taoyuan. “We did nothing wrong. Why can’t we resolve that lingering obsession?”

 

Haowei looked up at Si Lan and calmly stated, “That General Pei’s words can’t be trusted.”

 

“Hmm?”

 

“Those affected by the Dayong curse have unstable Qi, their spirits are weak, and they appear fatigued. However, General Pei maintains stable Qi and doesn’t show any sign of fatigue. He should be the one who summoned Dayong.”

 

Only the person who summoned Dayong remains unaffected by the curse.

 

Haowei had noticed General Pei’s unusual condition when he first saw him. At that time, he believed it was due to General Pei’s profound inner energy and robust physical strength. However, after another day had passed, it was impossible for even a healthy human body to maintain such stable Qi after two days without rest.

 

Si Lan asked, puzzled, “Can a living person like Pei summon Dayong? I thought only the lingering grudges of the deceased could do that.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Si Lan contemplated, “I remember you said that Taoyuan was trapped to death by someone. Is General Pei trying to seek revenge for Taoyuan?”

 

“Or perhaps he wants to make the entire mortal realm pay the price for Taoyuan’s death.” Haowei’s voice turned cold.

 

Si Lan’s heart sank. He realized that they couldn’t delay any longer. Their immediate priority was to awaken Taoyuan and break the Dayong curse.

 

Taoyuan’s lingering obsession still lingered near his body. Si Lan planned to capture that obsession to understand what it was fixated on.

 

So, Si Lan, Haowei, and the Song brothers discreetly concealed their presence and, as if they were thieves, approached the Lakeheart Pavilion.

 

Inside the room, General Pei was applying powder to Taoyuan’s face.

 

“I know you love to be beautiful, even when you’re asleep, you can’t slack off.”

 

After General Pei carefully applied the powder, he leaned down and meticulously painted Taoyuan’s eyebrows. When he made a mistake, he reached out to wipe off the makeup expertly.

 

“I promised you in the past that I would paint your eyebrows for you every day. Now I’ve fulfilled my promise. But what about you? You said you wanted to stay with me for a long, long time, didn’t you?”

 

General Pei touched Taoyuan’s cheek gently, his eyes filled with deep affection.

 

“Is your lingering obsession staying for him?” He? Who was he?

 

The four eavesdroppers in the room were puzzled. They wanted to hear more but General Pei fell silent. He simply held Taoyuan’s hand tightly, and his body remained motionless, like a statue.

 

Si Lan cast a spell, causing General Pei in the room to fall into a deep sleep. Then, Si Lan and Haowei stealthily entered the room, while the Song brothers were left outside to stand guard.

 

Though the Song brothers initially considered joining the action inside, they refrained from doing so as they thought about the time when Song Ye had faked a disability. He had feigned it for a hundred years, deceiving Song Cheng into doing his work for him. Song Cheng couldn’t help but clench his teeth when he remembered it.

 

However, Song Ye, who always seemed carefree, now wanted to talk with his brother. He used his elbow to nudge Song Cheng and asked, “My lord seems to trust that man with the veil.”

 

Song Cheng ignored him.

 

Song Ye saw the change in his brother’s expression and continued, “My lord, if that man is the same one you found on Mount Quansha, what do you think?”

 

Song Cheng’s expression stiffened, and he glared at Song Ye. His eyes were fixed firmly on his brother, who was standing very close.

 

“Song Ye, if you do anything foolish, don’t involve me.”

 

“Brother, if it makes you happy, I don’t mind killing him for you, right away.”

 

“Song Ye, if you continue to do foolish things, don’t drag me into them.”

 

“Brother, why pretend to be so virtuous? Do you know what happened to my lord’s three consorts? I’m sure you understand better than anyone…”

 

Song Cheng’s face gradually became tense as he heard this, and he stared at Song Ye intensely.

 

Song Ye smiled nonchalantly, “I want my brother to be happy. If you don’t want that person to approach my lord, I’ll kill him immediately.”

 

—

 

Inside the room, General Pei had dozed off beside the bed.

 

Si Lan performed a secret technique, and above Taoyuan’s physical body, a wisp of Taoyuan’s lingering obsession floated. It carried the memories Taoyuan didn’t want to forget.

 

Si Lan and Haowei simultaneously reached out for the obsession, and the next moment, they saw the scenes held within.

 

Before the break of dawn, Taoyuan was already practicing on a dilapidated stage.

 

At this time, Taoyuan’s face appeared slightly young, with undeveloped features, but his figure was slender and graceful, exuding a hint of femininity.

 

He twirled his sleeves, swayed his body, and sang slowly, “Gazing upon the distant Qí, where the green bamboo is lush and dense. The gentleman there, he works on himself, as if carving and polishing, as if cutting and grinding…”

 

He sang with great enthusiasm but didn’t notice there was someone lying on the par4p3t.

 

The clear and melodious voice woke General Pei, who was rubbing his temples. His face still carried the remnants of

 

 a blush, as if he had just woken up from a drunken stupor.

 

Listening to the tune in the courtyard, General Pei couldn’t help closing his eyes, crossing his legs, and occasionally nodding in appreciation.

 

Si Lan hadn’t expected that General Pei also had such a carefree and playful side. Just as he was feeling surprised, the song ended, and he saw General Pei turn his head, his gaze fixed on the figure on the stage.

 

Although the two were separated by some distance, General Pei looked closer and squinted his eyes, asking, “Young lady, what song are you singing?”

 

At this time, Taoyuan had disheveled hair, was dressed in a colorful dress, and his facial features hadn’t fully developed yet, making it hard to distinguish his gender. Upon hearing General Pei’s question, Taoyuan felt embarrassed and raised his head, glaring at General Pei.

Later, Taoyuan, for some unknown reason, raised his eyebrows slightly and deliberately deepened his voice, saying, “Good husband, the title of the song I just sang is ‘Qí Ào’.”

 

It’s unclear whether General Pei was startled by the term “good husband” or the sudden change in Taoyuan’s voice, but he stumbled and fell from the par4p3t, then hastily fled.

 

Seeing this, Taoyuan couldn’t help but cover his face and chuckle.

 

Si Lan, upon seeing this, couldn’t contain his laughter either.

 

General Pei had tried to flirt but ended up being teased instead.

 

Across the room, Haowei heard Si Lan’s laughter and glanced at him through the black veil.

 

The second scene depicted by the obsession was the troupe leader holding a thick stick, similar to a baby’s arm, and repeatedly striking Taoyuan.

 

Taoyuan knelt on the ground, his delicate body jerking with every blow, but he refused to admit that he had stolen the jade pendant.

 

General Pei, as usual, was sunbathing on the par4p3t when he saw the scene of Taoyuan being beaten. He immediately leaped into the courtyard, taking the stick from the troupe leader.

 

“Why are you beating him?” General Pei asked.

 

“This rebel stole my jade pendant, hid it in his room, and won’t admit it!” The troupe leader recognized General Pei, as he was the eldest son of General Pei. He had no choice but to explain.

 

General Pei asked with a cold face, “Is it the jade pendant carved like a big cabbage?”

 

“Yes… Master Pei, how do you know about it?”

 

General Pei chuckled and pointed to a little actor in the corner, saying, “I was sunbathing on the par4p3t, and I saw him sneaking into Taoyuan’s room with a cabbage-shaped jade pendant.”

 

As General Pei finished speaking, the little actor’s face changed instantly. He quickly knelt down, begging for mercy. The troupe leader became furious and began beating him with a broom.

 

For a moment, everyone in the theater troupe’s room was focused on the troupe leader and the actor who was begging for mercy.

 

Only General Pei watched Taoyuan, who was still kneeling on the ground.

 

General Pei helped Taoyuan up, but Taoyuan blushed slightly and avoided his touch, thanking him with a lowered head.

 

After this incident, General Pei and Taoyuan’s relationship grew much closer. To express his gratitude, Taoyuan made soup for General Pei.

 

General Pei opened the porcelain bowl with excitement. However, when he saw that it contained meatball soup with radishes, his expression changed for a moment, but he still smiled and finished the soup.

 

In truth, General Pei hated two things in his life: radishes and meatballs.

 

But General Pei knew that this was the best thing Taoyuan could offer him.

 

Their friendship from their youth blossomed quickly, and they became the closest of friends, sharing every aspect of their lives despite being from entirely different worlds. Thanks to a par4p3t wall, they were closely connected.

 

Unfortunately, these good days didn’t last long. The Pei family was summoned back to the capital by the Holy Yu family.

 

Before leaving, General Pei found Taoyuan and brought a jug of wine. He poured it for Taoyuan, saying, “This wine is remarkable. Drinking it will strengthen your body. You’re so thin; you should have more nourishment.” Seeing Taoyuan’s skeptical expression, he added, “Even my elder brother, who has been bedridden for many years, can get up and take a few walks after drinking it.”

 

Taoyuan chuckled and broke his abstinence from alcohol that night.

 

In his drowsy state, Taoyuan heard General Pei say, “I really want to take you with me to the capital. The snow in the capital is beautiful.”

 

Taoyuan reached out to touch General Pei’s face and fell into a deep sleep.

 

When Taoyuan woke up, General Pei was already gone. In a rush, Taoyuan ran outside, leaving behind one of his shoes. He didn’t care about it and chased after the Pei family’s procession.

 

Fourteen or fifteen-year-old General Pei rode a black steed, his back straight, tall and imposing. He led his family out of the city gates.

 

Taoyuan only managed to give General Pei one last glance.

 

Upon returning to the theater troupe, the troupe leader noticed Taoyuan’s bloodied and mangled right foot. He couldn’t help but sneer, “Young Master Pei has returned to the capital, where there are many beautiful actors and handymen. Do you think he’ll remember who you are?”

 

Taoyuan kept his head down and said nothing.

 

“Your Highness, someone is approaching,” suddenly, Song Cheng’s voice echoed from outside.

 

Si Lan immediately withdrew his hand, and the current scene stopped abruptly.

 

A group of people had arrived, including some practitioners. Si Lan didn’t want to cause trouble, so he pulled Haowei’s arm and disappeared back into their room.

 

Song Cheng and Song Ye also returned using magic.

 

The initial scenes that the obsession revealed were mostly consistent with General Pei’s previous account. However, it was unclear what was wrong, preventing Taoyuan’s obsession from awakening?

 

Furthermore, the “he” mentioned by General Pei remained a mystery. Who was he referring to?

 

In those brief scenes, there didn’t seem to be anyone particularly significant.

 

Si Lan was perplexed and turned to Haowei. “Chongwei, did you discover anything?”

 

Haowei was about to respond when a strange bell suddenly rang outside, echoing with an eerie tone, filling the air above the General’s Mansion.

 

It was a soul-binding bell.

 

Si Lan and the others rushed outside, following the strange bell sound, which led them to the Lakeheart Pavilion. There, several servants were gathered at the edge of the lake.

 

In front of the Lakeheart Pavilion, several practitioners stood with their eyes closed, shaking the soul-binding bells in peculiar postures.

 

Inside the Lakeheart Pavilion, through the official yellow beaded curtains, they could faint

 

ly see several practitioners. Using a thread as a medium, they sent layer after layer of white light into Taoyuan’s body.

 

General Pei was left outside the pavilion, clenching his fists and staring intently at what was happening inside.

 

Seeing this, Si Lan and the others attempted to step into the Lakeheart Pavilion but were stopped by the elderly steward.

 

The steward explained awkwardly, “Doctor Si, the practitioners are performing a ritual. Please refrain from disturbing them. Please don’t misunderstand; it’s not that the General’s Mansion doesn’t trust your medical skills. The General’s Mansion had previously issued a notice, inviting renowned doctors from all over to treat the Madam’s illness. These practitioners just arrived and claimed they could help, so the General allowed them to perform their rituals.”

 

“Ah, I see,” Si Lan nodded and looked at the practitioners ringing the bells in front of the Lakeheart Pavilion, noticing a few familiar figures.

 

Despite their disguises, Si Lan still recognized them as the men who were discussing General Pei and Taoyuan at the teahouse yesterday.

 

Si Lan’s expression grew serious, and he asked the steward, “Are the identities of those practitioners reliable?”

 

“They are reliable; they are all disciples of the Xuanling Sect,” the steward replied.

 

Si Lan fell into thought, and then Haowei suddenly spoke in a low voice, “This is the art of necromancy.”

 

“So, they aren’t planning to revive Taoyuan but turn him into a puppet?” Si Lan inquired.

 

“Yes,” Haowei confirmed.

 

Si Lan was about to speak up to stop them when he heard voices coming from inside the room.

 

“General Pei, he’s awake!”

 

General Pei immediately rushed into the room, and Si Lan and the others followed suit.

 

Inside the room, incense wafted through the air, and the beaded curtains swayed. The person lying on the bed had eyes that slowly moved, as if they had lost focus. After a while, those eyes settled on General Pei.

 

General Pei couldn’t help but grip Taoyuan’s hand, and his chest trembled involuntarily with excitement.

 

“Taoyuan…”

 

The person on the bed had a pale face, and at the corner of their lips, they murmured, “Am I asleep?”

---

T/N: Hey there! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

If you like my translations, feel free to donate to my ko-fi!

I really, really appreciate all the support from my readers <3 It goes a long way and motivates me lots!

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Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

 

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Chapter 28

 

If it weren’t for the peace between the two realms, Haowei really wanted to give the outspoken Demon Lord a good beating.

 

What does it mean to be a “good husband”?

 

Does this Demon Lord really consider him his wife?

 

“To thank you for helping me in ways you may not even realize, I’ll give you another iridescent feather,” Si Lan said, taking out an iridescent feather from his storage bag and handing it to Haowei.

 

Haowei’s face was full of disdain. Is it a common practice for birds to give feathers when they like someone? He didn’t want him to end up bald.

 

Disdain aside, Haowei still reached out and accepted it. He didn’t like odd numbers, and this would make a pair with the other iridescent feather.

 

While they were talking, a voice suddenly echoed in Si Lan’s divine consciousness. It was the voice of a demon general stationed near the border between the human realm and the demon realm.

 

“Your Excellency, a monster has entered the human realm causing trouble. Even the God Monkey of Eminent Heaven couldn’t subdue it. We are sending an urgent request for assistance.”

 

The God Monkey of Eminent Heaven was a celestial lord responsible for managing earthly affairs on behalf of the Heavenly Court.

 

According to the established customs of the Six Realms, each realm was responsible for its own affairs. After the Heavenly Court unified the six realms of gods, demons, spirits, humans, and ghosts, the Heavenly Court effectively managed the affairs of the five realms, leaving the demon realm under Si Lan’s jurisdiction.

 

How difficult could this monster be that it led the God Monkey of Eminent Heaven to seek help from the demon realm?

 

The demon general delivered the urgent report to Si Lan, and a strip of bamboo message gradually appeared in front of him.

 

He opened the bamboo message and, after reading the black characters on it, his facial features tightened inch by inch.

 

The monster was none other than Da Yong.

 

Da Yong had been sealed by the previous Heavenly Emperor Tai Wei at the boundary between the human and demon realms. Later, the place where Da Yong was sealed gradually formed a towering mountain, known as Mount Da Yong in the world.

 

According to the principle of territorial jurisdiction, most of Mount Da Yong was close to the human realm, and therefore, it should be the Heavenly Court’s responsibility to handle the matter. However, following the principle of ownership, Da Yong was a demon, and thus, it fell under the jurisdiction of the demon realm.

 

Sending an urgent report to him was a clever way for the God Monkey of Eminent Heaven to pass the buck.

 

Haowei’s gaze penetrated the bamboo message, and he also saw the contents. His expression grew serious.

 

When he came down to the demon realm, he knew that Da Yong had escaped, but he hadn’t expected Da Yong to go causing havoc in the human realm. According to historical records, Da Yong used a curse that left people sleepless, leading to their eventual demise. The average person could endure sleeplessness for a maximum of five days, with only a very few managing to hold out for seven days.

 

This meant that if Da Yong wasn’t subdued within three days, most of the ordinary people would be sleeplessly trapped and eventually die.

 

Si Lan closed the bamboo message and intended to leave for the human realm immediately.

 

For one, he may be a demon lord, but he had once been human and couldn’t stand by and watch people die.

 

Secondly, Lan Lan’s fourth reincarnation was still in the human realm. So, whether from the perspective of universal love or personal affection, this trip to the human realm was inevitable.

 

Quze and Xie Li, two disciples of Si Lan, also wanted to accompany him.

 

Si Lan didn’t dare to take any risks and only allowed the two of them to stay behind to guard the Cloud-Seeking Peak.

 

The last time, Quze was an undercover agent, so Si Lan wasn’t worried about leaving him at the Profound Spirit Sect. However, this time, their opponent was an ancient demon with unknown origins, and Si Lan couldn’t risk Quze and Xie Li being in danger.

 

“You two are also entrusted with an important responsibility to guard the Cloud-Seeking Peak.”

 

“But, Your Excellency, if I miss you, can I come and find you?”

 

Si Lan paused for a moment and then said, “Alright.”

 

After arranging his two disciples, Si Lan looked at Haowei, “Little White Dragon, you should return to the Heavenly Court as soon as possible. Don’t let your father worry about you.”

 

“I want to go with you.”

 

“No, it’s too dangerous this time.” Si Lan refused with a stern face. If something happened to Little White Dragon while he was with him, he couldn’t bear the responsibility.

 

Haowei’s lips twitched, and he impulsively said, “Didn’t you say I’m very good at… being a good husband to you?”

 

As soon as he said that, Haowei regretted it, and his ears turned slightly red. He wasn’t planning to accompany Si Lan to the human realm in the first place.

 

“Never mind.” Before Si Lan could respond, Haowei coldly added, “I’ll return to the Heavenly Court on my own!”

 

With those words, Haowei cast a spell and transformed into a cloud of mist, disappearing in an instant.

 

“…” Si Lan.

 

Si Lan watched Haowei’s departing figure, feeling a bit puzzled. Why did this little guy seem so stubborn? It was all for safety that he didn’t take him along.

 

Oh well, he felt that this Little White Dragon’s thoughts were even harder to fathom than Lan Lan, A Lan, and Que Lan from before.

 

After pondering for a moment, Si Lan used a spell to instantly appear in the human realm.

 

At first glance, the human realm seemed normal, but looking through the clouds, a dark energy barrier enveloped the entire human realm.

 

Any living being that entered this dark energy, whether in the sky, on the ground, or in the water, would be affected by a curse, making it impossible for them to sleep day or night.

 

In that moment, Si Lan suddenly understood the actions of the heavens. In ancient times, even the most insignificant demons and monsters were incredibly powerful and could easily wipe out the human realm, which occupied the lowest rung of the food chain. If they weren’t kept in check to balance the power of the six realms, the human realm would have long been overrun by those demons and monsters.

 

Si Lan landed on a street, and the scene seemed frozen, but it was slowly moving.

 

Occasionally, a few chimneys were still emitting smoke, and the smoke drifted in the wind as if it were moving more slowly than usual. Pedestrians had dark circles under their eyes, walking wearily with heavy, leaden legs.

 

Inside the houses, babies were crying incessantly, while outside, cats and dogs were going mad, continuously howling and roaring as if trying to vent something but unable to.

 

Every household was filled with complaints and wailing.

 

Si Lan couldn’t bear to let it continue. He used magic to draw a formation in the air, and following that formation, he saw that apart from the dark energy in the sky, black energy pervaded the human realm, resembling creeping vines, rising from the ground and floating in the air.

 

Si Lan flew toward the place where the black energy was most concentrated, General Ning An’s residence.

 

The closer he got, the stronger the demonic energy he felt, and he had a faint sense that this demonic energy was somewhat familiar. Could it be his subordinates?

 

Thinking this, Si Lan slightly furrowed his brow and discreetly landed in a teahouse across from General Ning An’s residence.

 

Inside the teahouse, several tall men with upright postures were huddled together, whispering quietly.

 

Si Lan faintly heard the word “General” and used magic to eavesdrop on what they were saying.

 

“That little musician is already dead. There’s no way a divine physician can save him.”

 

“For General Pei to go to such lengths for him, he might ruin his reputation in one fell swoop!”

 

“Ah, not only General Pei’s reputation, but according to that Daoist artificer, this curse of the ancient demon Da Yong, which is causing havoc in the human realm, may have been unleashed by the spirit of that little musician. Perhaps if we burn his body, we can break the curse.”

 

“I say, we’d be better off…”

 

As they talked, they glanced at each other and made a gesture.

 

Si Lan sized up these men. Despite their tired faces, their voices were full of vigor, and their posture was upright and resolute. They were likely soldiers, perhaps even subordinates of General Pei.

 

Si Lan walked up to the entrance of General Ning An’s residence and stared at the closed red door, deep in thought.

 

What reason could he give to enter?

 

As he contemplated, a man dressed in black with a black hood stood next to him.

 

Si Lan turned to look at the man, who had a tall, well-proportioned figure, an understated aura, and although his face wasn’t very clear, just his profile made him seem out of place.

 

The man seemed to sense Si Lan’s gaze, and his hood shifted slightly as he turned to look in Si Lan’s direction. After a moment, he uttered a soft “Hmm.”

 

Si Lan felt that the voice was oddly familiar, like he had heard it somewhere. As he tried to recall, the bright red door suddenly opened, and a white-bearded butler stepped out.

 

“Are you the Twin Pinnacles of Tu Shan?”

 

Si Lan and the man in black exchanged glances and simultaneously replied, “Yes.”

 

“Please come in quickly. General Pei has been waiting for you for a long time…”

 

The butler led Si Lan and Haowei past winding courtyards to a building located in the middle of a blue lake, which suddenly came into view.

The butler led the way towards the center of the lake and explained, “Our lady has been unconscious and has been recuperating here under the general’s care.”

 

Si Lan inquired, “How many days has your lady been in a coma?”

 

“Three days.”

 

Si Lan suddenly realized that the onset of the Great Cursed Curse in the mortal realm was two days ago, which coincided closely with the time when the general’s wife fell into a coma. Could it be that the general’s wife’s spirit was responsible for this?

 

“Please, come in,” the butler said, standing by the door and inviting Si Lan and Haowei inside.

 

Once inside, they were greeted by twelve painted screens depicting landscapes. Behind the screens, there were translucent embroidered curtains made of transparent official yellow beads hanging about an inch above the ground.

 

On the right, two censers burned incense, and wisps of smoke rose. On the left, you could faintly see a person sleeping behind the curtains, while another person sat quietly in front of the bed, gazing at the sleeping figure.

 

Perhaps it was the sound of their footsteps that startled the person sitting by the bed, who reached out to part the bead curtain and came out.

 

This person was tall, about the same height as Haowei, and suddenly appeared in front of Si Lan. Si Lan felt like he was dwarfed when placed between these two.

 

Even though he was over seven feet tall.

 

Si Lan observed the features of General Pei, his sunken eye sockets, crimson eyes, and an expressionless face that still conveyed profound sadness and overwhelming despair.

 

Pei turned his gaze to Si Lan and said with slight surprise, “I never thought you two would actually be the Twin Pinnacles of Tu Shan.”

 

Slightly taken aback by this, Si Lan and Haowei exchanged glances, then Pei shifted his gaze to Haowei and said, “If Peach Abyss were still awake, he’d surely be delighted to see both of you safe.”

 

“…” Si Lan.

 

“…” Haowei.

 

Si Lan privately thought that General Pei’s grief had affected his judgment, mistaking him and Haowei for the Twin Pinnacles of Tu Shan. However, it did make things more convenient for their mission.

 

Si Lan cleared his throat and said calmly, “What is Peach Abyss’s current condition?”

 

“Peach Abyss has been in a coma, only regaining consciousness for less than a quarter of an hour each day,” perhaps to avoid suspicion, Pei had Si Lan and Haowei stay outside to diagnose the patient’s pulse, while he went in to tie a red thread around Peach Abyss’s wrist.

 

Si Lan held his breath and carefully held the red thread. After a moment, he glanced at the sleeping figure behind the bead curtain and furrowed his brow.

 

No pulse, no breath…

 

Peach Abyss was already dead.

 

Si Lan initially thought that the people in the teahouse were just talking nonsense, but now it seemed that they were telling the truth. Could it be that Peach Abyss’s lingering resentment had caused the Great Cursed Curse to be activated?

 

Si Lan pondered this, and as he handed the red thread to Haowei, he wanted him to confirm it. However, Haowei didn’t take it.

 

“Aren’t you going to check?” Si Lan asked.

 

“No need,” came the cool voice from behind the veil.

 

Si Lan didn’t notice, and continued, “You’ve also realized that he’s already dead?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Are you here to investigate the Great Cursed Curse too?”

 

“Yes.”

 

The last “yes” had a slightly annoyed tone.

 

Si Lan continued, “I still don’t know your name. You are…”

 

Haowei’s voice, muffled by the veil, paused for a moment before he uttered two words, “Chong Wei.” It was a combination of “Haowei” and “Chong Ying.”

 

Si Lan found this voice and the name somewhat familiar. He was about to say more when General Pei opened the bead curtain and walked out.

 

“Doctor, how is my wife’s condition?” Pei asked, looking at Si Lan.

 

Si Lan observed Pei, thinking that he was a military man who had experienced many battles and shouldn’t be unable to recognize that Peach Abyss had already passed away. However, Pei seemed unwilling to accept the truth, and Si Lan didn’t want to hurt his feelings directly.

 

Si Lan said, “We couldn’t determine your lady’s condition through pulse diagnosis. General, we need a face-to-face consultation to have a clearer understanding.”

 

After hesitating for a moment, Pei nodded and turned back to open the bead curtain, leading Si Lan and Haowei into the room.

 

Si Lan saw a person lying on the bed. Their black hair spread loosely on their shoulders, their complexion was pale, their expression peaceful, and they looked more like someone in deep sleep than a deceased person.

 

Si Lan hadn’t expected that the person who had driven General Pei to madness was, in fact, a man.

 

So why was Pei telling them to avoid suspicion?

 

Si Lan reached out and pressed his fingertips against Peach Abyss’s neck. He couldn’t detect any sign of life. As he got closer, he noticed that Peach Abyss had a thick layer of makeup on his face. The pale lips were covered in vivid rouge, giving him a somewhat lively appearance, which didn’t resemble a dead person.

 

It seemed that Pei had applied makeup to Peach Abyss himself, deluding himself into not accepting Peach Abyss’s passing.

 

Si Lan gently pressed Peach Abyss’s forehead and the body began to tremble, limbs convulsing as if in intense pain.

 

Pei, seeing this, tried to rush over, but Haowei blocked him.

 

“What did you do to my wife?” Pei demanded.

 

Si Lan withdrew his hand, and Peach Abyss’s body gradually calmed down. “There is impurity in his body,” Si Lan said. After death, if a corpse is not dealt with promptly, it can attract impurities and exhibit “false death” symptoms.

 

“What does impurity mean?” Pei asked, his brow furrowed.

 

Si Lan carefully chose his words. “It’s just some restless… unclean energy.”

 

Pei sat by the bedside and examined Peach Abyss’s body. After confirming that Peach Abyss was not injured, he asked, “How is my wife’s illness?”

 

“The condition is stable. I can prescribe a few herbal remedies for your wife to drink twice a day.”

 

Si Lan said, and he sensed a faint twitch at the corner of Haowei’s mouth through the veil. He probably found Si Lan’s words somewhat amusing. Nonetheless, Si Lan remained composed and wrote a prescription for Pei.

 

Pei had no reason to doubt him and immediately instructed his servants to prepare the herbal remedies.

 

“When will my wife wake up, Doctor?” Pei asked in a hoarse voice.

 

Si Lan’s expression froze for a moment. He hadn’t mentioned his name, so how did General Pei know his surname was Si?

 

“General Pei, I can’t guarantee when your lady will wake up, but for now, following this prescription should lead to her gradual recovery,” Si Lan paused and then added, “General Pei, have we met before?”

 

However, General Pei seemed too absorbed in the phrase “your lady’s condition will gradually improve.” He didn’t pay any attention to Si Lan and, instead, excitedly held Peach Abyss’s hand, muttering, “Peach Abyss, did you hear the doctor’s words? You will wake up soon, and then we can go to South Province to enjoy the mountains and rivers, or ride freely in the Northern Desert…”

 

“General…” Si Lan was about to say something more when the butler walked over.

 

“You two divine doctors must be tired. Please follow me to the guest rooms to rest. Tonight, the general’s mansion has prepared a feast to entertain you.”

 

Si Lan glanced at General Pei, who seemed utterly dazed and confused, unable to engage in meaningful conversation. So, he followed the butler and left.

 

He contemplated the situation as he walked, lost in thought. Consequently, when Haowei abruptly stopped, he wasn’t aware of it and bumped into Haowei.

 

Instinctively, Haowei turned and caught him. In an instant, a faint scent of temple incense and another familiar aroma wafted to his nostrils. The incense scent was probably picked up from Peach Abyss’s room.

 

Firm fingers held his waist. Through the thin clothing, their warmth pressed against his skin. He was taken aback, and he couldn’t help but think of the man he had encountered in the Illusion Realm of Xuanling Mountain. They were of similar height, both with large hands and the same comforting warmth.

 

Si Lan looked up, meeting a pair of eyes through the lightly swaying veil. Before he could focus, a clear, melodious voice came from within the veil.

 

“Are you steady now?”

 

“Uh, yes, I am.” Si Lan quickly steadied himself and gave an awkward smile.

 

“Both divine doctors, this is the guest room. If you need anything, call for me,” the old butler said as he left.

 

“Thank you.”

 

Once the butler had left, Si Lan realized that the old butler had assigned only one room for him and Haowei.

 

“…” Si Lan.

 

They were the Twin Pinnacles of Tu Shan, not a couple.

 

Si Lan didn’t know what to do, but he saw Haowei calmly walking into the room. Not wanting to appear embarrassed, he followed.

 

He inwardly thanked his stars that this person didn’t know his true identity; otherwise, discovering that he was destined to be with a “male spouse” would likely be unsettling.

 

Inside the room, Haowei still wore his veil, standing by the window in a meditative posture as if deep in thought. Si Lan sat down in a chair, and, with his hand, drew a swastika-like formation on the table. Soon, the formation expanded and enveloped the general’s mansion.

 

In an instant, the foul energies lingering around the general’s mansion were completely dissipated. Peach Abyss had been dead for a long time, and his body had not been laid to rest. This had attracted impurities wandering through the mansion. If this continued, not only Peach Abyss, but even ordinary people would be affected by these impurities, causing their vital energy to gradually dissipate.

 

After completing these tasks, Si Lan looked at Haowei. Haowei observed Si Lan casting the spell, maintaining his composure and not reacting in any way. He did not seem like an ordinary mortal.

 

Previously, when Si Lan unintentionally bumped into Haowei, he had tried to assess Haowei’s cultivation level but found nothing. It was as if he couldn’t discern the cultivation levels of the people he had encountered recently.

 

Could it be that his own cultivation had regressed?

 

Si Lan felt a sudden unease and decided to focus on his cultivation after resolving the current mortal realm crisis.

 

He coughed gently to break the silence and took the initiative. “Chong Wei, have you found any clues? Since we’re both here to solve the Great Cursed Curse, we should cooperate.”

 

The veil gently moved, and a soft voice came from inside. “That Lady Pei, she was emaciated and starved to death.”

 

“Starved to death?” Si Lan was surprised and felt a pang of sympathy. Such a cruel method was usually reserved for interrogating enemies. Peach Abyss was General Pei’s wife, so how could she have endured such treatment?

 

Si Lan recalled what the people in the teahouse had said, “Was it after his death, his ghost remained and summoned the Great Cursed Curse?”

 

“It’s not him; it takes an enormous amount of resentment to summon the Great Cursed Curse,” Haowei added. He hadn’t sensed strong resentment on Peach Abyss’s corpse.

 

Si Lan paused and then looked at Haowei. “I didn’t expect you to be so sure. Do you have any leads?”

 

“I am certain,” Haowei responded firmly. This was the first time he had come to the mortal realm in his current form, and there was no way General Pei could have seen him before.

 

Si Lan felt that Haowei’s denial was resolute. He changed the subject, saying, “This place has the heaviest demonic energy, aside from the Great Cursed Curse. There are other demonic energies intermingled here.”

 

Haowei continued without hesitation, “That Lady Pei, she was starved to death.”

 

Haowei seemed to be echoing the same information, but this time, Si Lan noticed something different in his tone.

 

“Who could have done something so cruel to her?” Si Lan wondered aloud.

 

Haowei responded, “I suspect we are not dealing with a simple ghost or the Great Cursed Curse. There may be another force at play here.”

 

Si Lan nodded in agreement. “I share the same suspicion. Let’s investigate further to unravel this mystery.”

 

With a newfound sense of purpose, they decided to work together to uncover the truth behind the Great Cursed Curse and the strange occurrences at General Pei’s mansion.

Even though Si Lan had sensed the diminishing presence of the other demonic energy since his arrival, he could still faintly feel the other’s existence.

 

Haowei acknowledged with a simple “hmm.”

 

“I suspect it might be people from my… our village…” Si Lan quickly corrected himself.

 

Haowei cast a condescending glance at him but didn’t confirm or deny it.

 

The two of them engaged in more small talk. Nightfall descended silently, and the general’s mansion lit up with rows of red lanterns, casting a warm red glow around.

 

A servant from General Pei came to invite them to the banquet.

 

They didn’t want to waste time at the banquet but considering that General Pei had some secrets, they decided to go.

 

The mansion’s servants, affected by the Great Cursed Curse, had sunken eyes and looked fatigued. Even the servant leading them spoke hesitantly.

 

“Di… Divine doctors, please… come in…”

 

As Si Lan turned around, he nearly stumbled and almost fell. He quickly extended a hand to support the servant. Seeing the servant about to struggle to thank him, Si Lan hastily said, “No need to thank me; go on with your duties.”

 

The servant bowed and left.

 

General Pei had not yet arrived, and the servants were setting up the dishes.

 

Si Lan looked at the sumptuous feast on the table but had no appetite. His mind was consumed with thoughts of the Great Cursed Curse.

 

He only knew that the Great Cursed Curse was a demonic creature that cast the Cursed Distress Curse, but beyond that, he had no information. He didn’t know where to begin.

 

“If only we could go to the Heavenly Court and see Taowei’s records,” Si Lan mumbled under his breath.

 

When Taowei was alive, he would record the demons he had subdued in his records, which were stored in the Heavenly Court’s scriptures repository. However, the Heavenly Court was guarded by divine warriors and protected by barriers, making it challenging to access.

 

Haowei, who was nearby, gave Si Lan a faint look.

 

In an instant, General Pei entered, looking visibly fatigued. Upon seeing Si Lan and Haowei, he inquired about Peach Abyss’s condition, “Divine Doctor Si, I feel that Peach Abyss’s complexion has improved after drinking your medicine. Can you tell me when she might wake up?”

 

“It depends on the patient’s personal will,” Si Lan replied, considering General Pei’s fragile state. He then changed the subject, “General Pei, how did your wife contract this strange illness?”

 

General Pei seemed to recall something unpleasant, his eyes clouded with red mist. “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have left her alone in the military camp, leading to her being…,” he stopped abruptly, unable to continue. He instinctively denied Peach Abyss’s death.

 

Observing General Pei’s unstable mental state, Si Lan didn’t want to push him further and changed the topic again, “General Pei, has your lady ever mentioned anything about curses or spells?”

 

“Divine Doctor Si, I know what you want to ask. That Great Cursed Curse outside has nothing to do with my wife,” General Pei said with determination, “Those people not only harmed my wife, but now they also want to blame these unfounded charges on her. It’s unforgivable.”

 

Seeing General Pei’s near-hysterical state, Si Lan had a vague thought that was almost too unbelievable to consider.

 

“General! General!” Suddenly, the butler’s voice came from outside, interrupting their conversation.

 

The butler had rushed to the door, out of breath and excited. “General, the divine doctor’s prescription really worked. The lady has awakened!”

 

General Pei, upon hearing this, rushed to the butler and seized his hand, asking, “Is Lady really awake?”

 

“Yes, she’s now singing in the Hundred Fragrance Garden.”

 

Without waiting for the butler to finish speaking, General Pei hurried towards the Hundred Fragrance Garden.

 

The other guests at the banquet followed him.

 

Si Lan and Haowei exchanged glances.

 

Haowei took a deep breath and asked in a cold tone, “What kind of prescription did you give?”

 

“I prescribed a treatment for lumbar disc herniation,” Si Lan replied.

 

“…” Haowei.

 

Si Lan figured that Peach Abyss probably had to bend over frequently when practicing singing, so he prescribed a treatment for lumbar disc herniation. However, he had not expected Peach Abyss to actually wake up!

 

Was this a case of faked death?

---

T/N: Hey there! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

If you like my translations, feel free to donate to my ko-fi!

I really, really appreciate all the support from my readers <3 It goes a long way and motivates me lots!

https://ko-fi.com/hoenibean

 

Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

 

Thank you for all your support <3 Leave a comment if you like 🙂 I love reading them!

Chapter 27

 

Suddenly, a sense of emptiness filled Si Lan’s heart as he looked at the well-assembled prosthetic limb in his hand, as if he had realized something. A faint smile crept across his lips.

 

This little guy still had a conscience; before leaving, he had securely placed the prosthetic limb.

 

However, Si Lan wasn’t sure if the new prosthetic would be suitable for Quze.

 

He used his divine sense to communicate with Quze, saying, “Quze, come to Zhuyun Peak quickly.”

 

Quze didn’t reply, and Si Lan assumed he was busy, so he didn’t think much of it. However, after a while, he tried contacting Quze again and received no response. That’s when he realized something was amiss.

 

How could it be that he had just returned to Zhuyun Peak and couldn’t get in touch with Quze?

 

“Quze, is something wrong with you?”

 

After a moment, Quze’s voice, slightly hoarse, came through his divine sense, “Lord, I’m fine. I’ll be back at Zhuyun Peak shortly.”

 

Si Lan sensed that something was wrong and calmly said, “Okay.”

 

After ending the communication, he immediately flew to find Quze based on the guidance of Feather Spirit.

 

When Quze was young and had lost his arm, he was frequently bullied by other young demons in the Demon Realm. To protect him, Si Lan had left Feather Spirit on Quze. Whenever Quze called for him, he could quickly locate him using Feather Spirit’s guidance.

 

He sensed Quze’s aura within the Songkun Valley and saw a group of demons surrounding Quze, brutally beating him with their fists. They had taken advantage of his broken prosthetic arm and injuries to torment him.

 

Quze remained silent, cradling Xie Li beneath him with his one remaining arm, allowing them to pummel him.

 

On the ground nearby, Quze’s torn shirt and the upper part of his prosthetic arm were strewn about, stained with blood.

 

Xie Li, seemingly in shock, had gone pale. He had forgotten to cry and curled up in Quze’s embrace, trembling with each punch that landed.

 

When Si Lan witnessed this scene, a surge of anger welled up in his heart. He drew his Mysterious Heart Whip and lashed out at the group of demons, sending them sprawling and severely injured.

 

“Go… run…”

 

When the demons saw Si Lan’s appearance, they immediately turned to flee. Unfortunately, they were no match for Si Lan’s whip, which was faster. The long whip pierced through their shoulders like skewers, stringing them together and presenting them before Si Lan.

 

Si Lan was furious but chuckled sarcastically, squinting at them, “Don’t you know that Quze and Xie Li are under my protection?”

 

“We… We are also under Lord of the Deer’s command…”

 

“Lord of the Deer,” Si Lan’s lips curled in a deeper smile, “then tell him, whatever issues he has with me, don’t involve my two disciples.”

 

Lord of the Deer was the peak master of the Shuhe Peak, one of the twelve peaks. When Si Lan’s father, Sī Shaojun, defeated Lord Chu’s Mountain, he replaced five peak masters among the twelve, but seven remained unchanged, and Lord of the Deer was one of them. He had been Lord Chu’s Mountain’s trusted aide.

 

During Sī Shàojūn’s reign, Lord of the Deer still acknowledged his authority, but after Si Lan took over, Lord of the Deer repeatedly expressed his dissatisfaction with Si Lan’s rule, desiring to make Shuhe Peak independent from Si Lan’s control.

 

Si Lan, considering Lord of the Deer’s high prestige within Shuhe Peak, had turned a blind eye to his provocations, not wanting to escalate the situation. However, he hadn’t expected Lord of the Deer to dare to bully his disciples.

 

Did he truly believe Si Lan’s leniency made him easy to push around?

 

Si Lan abruptly retracted his whip, and the barbs on the whip instantly rose as he pulled it back through the group of demons, causing them to scream in pain, clutching their bleeding wounds in panic and fleeing in all directions.

 

“You… You, you arrogant little chicken pretending to be a phoenix! Don’t think you can go unchallenged for long. Lord of the Deer will expose your secrets soon!” one demon, thinking they had run far enough to be safe, shouted at Si Lan.

 

Si Lan responded with an “Oh,” and in the next moment, the demon’s arm was ripped off, blood gushing. The demon was terrified, clutching the wound and shrieking as they fled.

 

Si Lan redirected his gaze and, looking down, saw Quze struggling to get up from the ground with one arm.

 

Si Lan asked, “Why didn’t you send a message for me to come to your rescue?”

 

“I…,” Quze lowered his head, his eyes filled with concern. He changed the subject, saying, “One of the demons mentioned that Lord of the Deer has obtained evidence…”

 

Quze had originally planned to endure today’s harassment and approach Lord of the Deer alone tomorrow, hoping to make Lord of the Deer give up exposing Si Lan by any means necessary.

 

“Just because of that, you didn’t tell me?” Si Lan’s brow furrowed deeply, and he retrieved some ointment from his pouch, tossing it to Quze, transferring some inner energy to help with the healing.

 

Quze clenched the ointment, but didn’t speak.

 

Seeing this, Xie Li gently tugged on Si Lan’s robe. “My Lord, don’t blame Senior Brother. He was doing it for your own good.”

 

Xie Li had been scared into tears earlier, and Quze had warned him not to cry, or else Si Lan might hear.

 

Quze didn’t want Si Lan to worry about them, and he especially didn’t want Si Lan to know about Lord of the Deer’s threat.

 

“Quze, if you didn’t want to tell me, were you planning to handle it on your own?” Si Lan squinted, his expression turning colder. “But how were you planning to solve it? Let me guess, were you thinking of sacrificing yourself alongside Lord of the Deer?”

 

Quze hadn’t expected Si Lan to figure out his thoughts. He instinctively tightened his fingers, his face turning pale, nervously looking at Si Lan.

 

Si Lan’s precise perception caught this movement, and in the next moment, he slapped Quze.

 

This was the first time Quze had been physically struck in his entire life. The blow was powerful, making Quze’s face twist to the side, and it took a while for him to slowly straighten his head.

 

His lips were skewed.

 

“After this, if you dare to take matters into your own hands for me again, you can have the position of Demon Sovereign.”

 

“My Lord, that’s not what I meant…” Quze wanted to explain, but Si Lan didn’t want to listen to him. He lifted Xie Li’s collar and used magic to leave the valley.

 

Quze quickly chanted a spell and followed behind Si Lan, but he didn’t dare get too close, knowing Si Lan was still angry with him.

 

Back at Zhuyun Peak, Quze saw a new iron prosthetic arm laid on the stone table, and his eyes reddened instantly.

 

He picked up the prosthetic arm and bit his lower lip tightly.

 

“My Lord…”

 

Even if his lord didn’t allow it, he still wanted to fight for his lord.

 

“Quze.” Suddenly, a low, oppressive voice emanated from the hall. “If you haven’t given up on foolish actions, don’t blame me for banishing you from Zhuyun Peak.”

 

After a pause, Si Lan added, “Even after death, don’t expect to be buried on Zhuyun Peak.”

 

Being unable to be buried on Zhuyun Peak after death was a devastating blow to Quze.

 

As expected, he calmed down after hearing this and went to rest. However, he couldn’t sleep that night; he kept thinking about what the demons had said.

 

Although Si Lan hadn’t revealed his true form or said anything about it, Quze had once accidentally seen a demon resembling a wild chicken bathing in the hot springs of the Seven Strings Cavern.

 

After a single glance, he immediately turned away, vaguely understanding something. However, for so many years, he had avoided delving deeper into the matter.

 

It wasn’t until early morning that Quze, still holding the prosthetic arm, fell into a fitful sleep.

 

While he slept, Si Lan quietly entered his room and saw Quze holding the prosthetic arm in his sleep, his grip tight and his face hidden beneath the blanket.

 

Si Lan hadn’t expected that he had struck Quze so hard in anger. Regretfully, he found some ointment and applied it to the bruises on Quze’s cheek.

 

Had he given the young one a psychological scar by being so angry and hitting him? After all, he was just a child of a little over two hundred years.

 

—

Si Lan didn’t know whether Lord of the Deer was bluffing or had truly discovered his secret identity as a wild chicken. He tried to contact Lord of the Deer through long-distance voice transmission but found that he couldn’t reach him.

 

He had to resort to contacting the guardian of Shuhe Peak and learned that Lord of the Deer had left Shuhe Peak yesterday, likely to search for someone.

 

Si Lan’s brow furrowed deeply. After pondering for a while, he realized that the reason Lord of the Deer had suspected him was probably due to the accidental reveal of his wings during their encounter at Xuanling Gate.

 

Could it be that Lord of the Deer has been having people track me all along?

 

I’ve been careless.

 

But even if Lord of the Deer has his suspicions, as long as I don’t reveal my true form, he won’t have direct evidence of my identity.

 

Furthermore, even if Lord of the Deer were to expose my true form, he can’t remove me from the position of Demon Sovereign. Currently, five of the twelve peak masters are loyal to my father, and three are loyal to me.

 

These eight people will stand by my side no matter what.

 

However, if my true form is revealed, it’s like getting caught with a fake degree; it will make me lose face, and I’ll undoubtedly face ridicule from other demons. I can imagine that when they mention me in the future, the first thing that will come to their minds won’t be the fact that I’m a ruthless demon lord but that I’m the chicken-loving Demon Sovereign.

 

Sigh.

 

Lord of the Deer arrived at Zhuyun Peak three days later, claiming that he wanted justice for his subordinates. He also brought three peak masters along to support his cause. These three peak masters were all loyal to my father and had long held grudges against me.

 

As I looked at the imposing group heading up the mountain, I couldn’t help but think of it as a “palace coup” in the human world.

 

In reality, this “palace” isn’t worth overthrowing. After all, on my side, there’s only one disciple with a missing arm and a six-year-old disciple sneaking sweets.

 

Lord of the Deer, upon seeing me, didn’t show any respect. He appeared arrogant and was followed by his subordinates who carried weapons and held their heads high, not bothering to bow or show respect, staring coldly at me.

 

“My Lord, may I inquire as to what my subordinates have done? Are you planning to grievously wound them?” Lord of the Deer spoke, reaching out to bring forward the demons who had bullied Quze the last time.

 

Perhaps it was the fear of being beaten again, but the demons faced my gaze and involuntarily stepped back, only to be pushed forward by Lord of the Deer.

 

“What have they done without telling you?” I smiled and retorted, “Without clarifying, you sent troops to Zhuyun Peak. Are you planning to rebel?”

 

“Rebellion? I dare not, but I ask my Lord to give me an explanation.” Lord of the Deer deliberately spoke slowly, sizing up my expression, thinking he would see me trembling in fear. However, he saw me remain calm and composed.

 

Lord of the Deer ground his teeth and continued, “My Lord, my subordinates have always been blunt in their speech, without regard for etiquette. They spoke without thinking and said that your true form is nothing more than a wild chicken. Did you really have to deal with them so harshly?”

 

“Pah, who said that my Lord’s true form is that filthy thing, a wild chicken? Show yourself; I’ll beat you to death!” Xue Wù, clearly upset, rolled up his sleeves and waved his polearm around the whole area.

 

My brow twitched, hoping that Xue Wù could say a little less to save me some face.

 

I cast a Silencing Spell, and Xue Wù suddenly couldn’t open his mouth, only making muffled sounds, “Uh, uh… My Lord, I…”

 

“Lord of the Deer, I have never used my authority to oppress others, but that doesn’t mean everyone can be disrespectful towards me.” I gently moved my foot, and a rush of energy spread like a gust of wind, intimidating Lord of the Deer.

 

Lord of the Deer’s expression stiffened as he gritted his teeth, his neck taut, and said, “Is it a matter of disrespect or did it touch a nerve, my Lord? If I remember correctly, none of us present have ever seen your true form.”

 

“Shame… we are your subordinates, indeed, unworthy of seeing your true form. However, it is well known that when the Divine Phoenix Sī Shàoxún was born, the true phoenix descended, and all eight phoenixes came to pay their respects. Upon seeing Sī Shàoxún, the phoenixes couldn’t help but dance with him, raising their necks and singing in unison. It is this legend that gave rise to the phrase ‘the phoenixes singing in harmony and dancing gracefully.'”

 

After Lord of the Deer finished speaking, his subordinates promptly split into two groups.

 

Eight exquisite women walked forward, donned in red and gold headdresses adorned with tassels, their robes flowing gracefully, their sleeves swaying in the wind, exuding an otherworldly aura.

 

These were the eight phoenixes that Lord of the Deer had borrowed from Cāngshān Mountains a few days ago.

 

With the bloodline connection among phoenixes, the Divine Phoenix clan naturally yielded to the Divine Phoenix. If I were indeed the Divine Phoenix’s true form, upon seeing me, these eight phoenix women would lose control and begin to dance in my presence.

 

Upon seeing the eight women, my expression slightly froze

 

.

I thought that as long as I kept my true form hidden, everything would be fine. But I didn’t expect Lord of the Deer to target the Divine Phoenix clan from Cāngshān Mountains.

 

Years ago, after the falling out between Cāngshān Mountains and my father, the Divine Phoenix clan had never set foot in the demon realm. That’s why, for all these years, I hadn’t encountered a Divine Phoenix, and I hadn’t even considered their involvement.

 

—

 

Ninth Heaven, Yuqing Palace.

 

After dealing with various immortals, Haowei rubbed his temples in exhaustion.

 

On the table, the phoenix feather white jade soup that Lady Quyu had sent earlier emitted a faint fragrance through the pot.

 

Haowei lowered his head, lifted the lid of the pot, and looked at the whitened phoenix feathers inside. His brow furrowed, and he couldn’t help but think of Si Lan.

 

If the Demon Lord were to see his fellow kind’s wings being made into soup, would he be enraged?

 

Thinking of this, Haowei’s lips curled slightly. He called a servant and ordered them to dispose of the soup. He also instructed that Yuqing Palace should not send anything else to Lady Quyu in the future.

 

After this brief episode, he continued with a stern expression to review memorials. During his absence from the Heavenly Court, a mountain of memorials had accumulated before him.

 

After a while, there was a sudden noise outside, resembling the call of cranes and the crowing of roosters.

 

He couldn’t help but put down the brush and look at the words on the memorials, which now seemed to twist into chicken shapes before his eyes.

 

With a thud, he put down the brush and furrowed his brow even deeper.

 

At this moment, a celestial general rushed in hurriedly and bowed to him. “Your Majesty, I have important news…”

 

“What’s going on?”

 

“Mount Dayong has collapsed, and the demon trapped under the mountain has escaped.”

 

The creature under Mount Dayong was a demon sealed there many years ago by Haowei’s father Taowei. This demon seemed to have some lingering obsession and could only be released from torment through a certain incantation, causing sleepless nights and ultimately driving its victims to exhaustion.

 

“Mount Dayong?” Haowei narrowed his eyes, reached out and pointed to the air, and a map unfolded before his eyes. Haowei found Mount Dayong on the map. “Is Mount Dayong close to the demon realm?”

 

“Uh… yes,” the celestial general nodded as he looked at the map.

 

“In that case, this demon is very likely to have gone to the demon realm. I will go to the demon realm to investigate.”

 

“Your Majesty, this…”

 

Before the celestial general could finish speaking, Haowei’s figure disappeared in an instant.

 

The celestial general looked at the map still hanging in the air and clicked his tongue. From the map, Mount Dayong indeed appeared to be quite close to the demon realm, but in reality, the distance between the two was tens of thousands of miles.

 

How did Your Majesty determine that the demon under Mount Dayong would go to the demon realm?

 

—

 

The Divine Phoenix guides the Divine Phoenixes, and the Divine Phoenixes beguile the birds. Therefore, when these eight Divine Phoenix women appeared, the birds near Zhuyun Peak flapped their wings and took flight, approaching the Divine Phoenixes. However, they were all blocked by the invisible barrier around the mountain.

 

The eight Divine Phoenix women walked gracefully toward Si Lan and stood before him.

 

Seeing this, everyone on Zhuyun Peak held their breath and fixed their gazes on Si Lan and the eight Divine Phoenix women.

 

But as time passed, the eight Divine Phoenix women didn’t start their dance, and there was no sign of them being drawn to Si Lan.

 

Si Lan clearly felt the atmosphere of his supporters behind him diminishing, while Lord of the Deer’s group regained their confidence, as if they had won the battle and were about to celebrate.

 

“Divine Phoenixes, please tell everyone: Is my Lord’s true form a real phoenix?”

 

The leading Divine Phoenix was about to speak but suddenly saw something protruding from Si Lan’s collar. A small white dragon head gradually emerged.

 

The little white dragon slowly opened its eyes, revealing golden irises that were indifferent and regal. In an instant, a wave of pressure surged straight toward the eight Divine Phoenix women, compelling their bodies to kneel involuntarily.

 

This pressure was like a drawn sword hanging above their heads. After they knelt down, they didn’t dare to lift their heads, holding their hands respectfully before their foreheads, showing absolute submission.

 

On Zhuyun Peak, everyone was stunned.

 

It wasn’t just the others; even Si Lan himself was taken aback by the scene before him.

 

What happened to them?

 

While the Divine Phoenix could lead the Divine Phoenixes in a dance, why would they kneel down?

 

“It must be because my Lord is too magnificent and dominant, making the Divine Phoenixes willingly submit, even to the point of not wanting to dance anymore,” Xie Li finally finished his candy, freeing his mouth to mutter.

 

Si Lan’s supporters immediately breathed a sigh of relief, their confidence soaring, and they began to speak to defuse the situation.

 

“It’s possible that regular Divine Phoenixes can lead the Phoenixes in a dance, but a Divine Phoenix like our Lord might only make the Phoenixes kneel and submit.”

 

“Perhaps, our Lord is exceptional. It is said that when he was born, though there were no Eight Phoenixes coming to celebrate, the mountains and rivers trembled, and the clouds roared, astonishing the Six Realms.”

 

Si Lan heard this and inwardly clenched his fingers.

 

The “mountains and rivers trembling, clouds roaring” was a rumor his mother had created for him in the Six Realms. In other words, his mother had prepared a catchy story for him in the Six Realms.

 

Lord of the Deer’s face became increasingly awkward as he asked again, “Divine Phoenix, could you please take another look…?”

 

The leading Divine Phoenix was still not lifting her head. Her voice trembled, “Yes, it’s true…”

 

“Lord of the Deer, don’t push too far,” Quze stepped forward, clutching his sword’s hilt in a threatening manner.

 

Lord of the Deer wanted to say something more, but the other three peak masters beside him quickly restrained him.

 

“My Lord, this matter was indeed Lord of the Deer’s impulsive act. I hope you, my Lord, can be magnanimous and not hold him accountable.”

 

“You caused a commotion here and now you’re asking my Lord to be magnanimous and not hold you accountable. Do you think my Lord is easy to bully?”

 

“Our Lord is just too kind. Every time, he doesn’t want to bother with these insignificant people, so they end up walking all over him.”

 

“Yeah, this time they actually said something as absurd as our Lord’s true form being a wild chicken! Who knows what they’ll say next?!”

 

Hearing the words of those standing up for him behind, Si Lan felt both relieved and somewhat guilty. He quickly bent down to help the eight Divine Phoenix women stand up. “Please, get up…”

 

“We… can’t get up,” the lead Divine Phoenix lowered her head and said slowly.

 

Si Lan was speechless. Just when he didn’t know how to handle the situation, the eight Divine Phoenix women suddenly regained their mobility. They quickly straightened their backs and didn’t dare to look up, maintaining the position with their fingers together on their foreheads as they slowly backed away.

 

Then, the eight of them transformed back into their original phoenix forms and soared into the sky, attracting a flock of birds to follow them.

 

Lord of the Deer’s face looked even worse. He began to suspect that Si Lan had cast some spell to force the Divine Phoenix women to kneel.

 

But he soon dismissed the idea. Even if Si Lan had somehow controlled the Divine Phoenix women, they could easily expose his true identity. However, judging from their expressions, they seemed genuinely afraid of Si Lan.

 

Could it be that Si Lan was really a Divine Phoenix?

 

If that were the case, why had he concealed it for so many years?

 

One of the peak masters behind Lord of the Deer nudged him, hinting for him to apologize quickly.

 

With an unenthusiastic expression, Lord of the Deer finally knelt down and said, “Your Majesty, I overstepped my bounds, please punish me.”

 

This was the first time Si Lan had seen Lord of the Deer lose face. Normally, Lord of the Deer was arrogant and didn’t care about anyone.

 

“Your Majesty, how should we deal with Lord of the Deer?” Quze asked.

 

Si Lan remained silent, looking at Lord of the Deer. Lord of the Deer gritted his teeth and lowered his head a little.

 

“In that case, Lord of the Deer will receive 800 lashes and will be tasked with guarding the territory of the Wolf Demon,” Si Lan declared.

 

The people behind Lord of the Deer immediately expressed their dissatisfaction.

 

“Your Majesty, you’re too kind.”

 

“In my opinion, Lord of the Deer’s position as the peak master should be revoked!”

 

“He showed such disrespect to Your Majesty; he doesn’t deserve to be the peak master of the Distant Peak!”

 

Listening to their complaints, Haowei, who was hidden in Si Lan’s arms, let out a faint snort.

 

Si Lan kind-hearted? Most likely, his heart was as dark as coal. The Lord of the Deer’s true form was a deer, and his natural enemy was the Wolf Demon. By punishing him to guard the Wolf Demon’s territory, wasn’t Si Lan practically leading him to his doom?

 

Si Lan raised his hand lightly, and the murmurs behind him ceased. He wanted to remove Lord of the Deer from his position as peak master as well, but if he did that, Lord of the Deer would undoubtedly lead the other three peak masters in rebellion, and the demon realm would once again fall into chaos.

 

Over the years, under his rule, the demon realm had gradually transformed. The monsters and demons had started to cultivate themselves, shedding their bloodthirsty natures. His introduction of compulsory education for nine hundred years had redirected their focus away from violence and battles. They now carried bags and attended classes in the Demon Hall, learning about the wonders of the Six Realms and the mysteries of elemental magic. As a result, the demon realm had enjoyed centuries of peace, a feat no previous Demon Lord had achieved. Even Si Lan, who was mighty, had to manage frequent outbreaks of violence and conflict in his realm.

 

The Lord of the Deer’s ears caught the disapproval of those behind him. He bit his lip and, after receiving the punishment, quickly led his followers to leave.

 

This group had arrived with arrogance but left like a defeated army.

 

Si Lan sighed inwardly. He had planned to reveal the truth about his true form openly, but it seemed fate had other ideas. 

 

He turned to the others. “You can leave as well.”

 

“Your Majesty…”

 

“It’s okay, don’t worry. I’m fine,” Si Lan smiled at his followers. His smile was as beautiful as a crescent moon, standing on the mountaintop, his blue robe fluttering in the wind, a picture of grace and elegance.

 

Seeing his smile, his followers swallowed their complaints and left.

 

“Why didn’t Peak Masters Song and Song accompany you?” Si Lan asked Quze.

 

These two were not only peak masters but also the guardians of the demon realm. When Si Lan was in seclusion or traveling, they were responsible for managing the affairs of the demon realm.

 

Quze explained, “Since the last time, when Peak Master Song discovered that Peak Master Song ¹lmao, yea there are two of themhad been pretending to be paralyzed for a hundred years, Peak Master Song has been chasing after Peak Master Song.”

 

Si Lan couldn’t help but sigh and mentally light a candle for Peak Master Song. 

 

In a sense, Lord of Chu Mountain had done something praiseworthy: he had provided Si Lan with two capable assistants in the form of Peak Masters Song and Song. Si Lan had found them when he was breaking into Lord of Chu Mountain’s lair. However, instead of using them as pawns, he had respected their choice to accompany him and serve loyally.

 

But he hadn’t expected that during their visit to Qiangjue Mountain to consult an oracle, Song had suddenly gotten out of the wheelchair, revealing that his legs had long been healed. Peak Master Song had been pursuing Peak Master Song ever since, presumably unable to bear the hundred-year deception.

 

Si Lan made a mental note to talk to them later.

 

At this moment, his clothes shifted as if something was trying to crawl out.

 

When the Divine Phoenix had approached him earlier, he had felt something moving inside his robes. But since the little white dragon had left, he sometimes felt as if there were something alive in his clothes.

 

But now, this unexpected sensation was undeniably real.

 

He lowered his head, and his gaze met the newly revealed eyes of the little white dragon.

 

Golden eyes, shining with starlight, were vividly reflecting his face. His eyes showed a growing surprise as he couldn’t help but lean down and kiss the little white dragon’s forehead.

 

It wasn’t an illusion; the little white dragon had really come to find him.

 

“…” Haowei.

 

Haowei’s body suddenly stiffened, his pupils dilated, and he felt the warmth of the other’s lips on his forehead, like an electric current that sent shivers through his body. His scales slowly changed color, emitting a faint crimson halo.

 

After the kiss, Si Lan noticed the change in the little white dragon’s scales and couldn’t help but exclaim, “Hmm… your scales have changed color again.”

 

He held Haowei in his hand and carefully examined him, half-serious and half-teasing, “Could it be an allergy to my saliva?”

 

“…” Haowei.

 

In Si Lan’s mind, the little white dragon was still just a pet, and even in his human form, he was about the size of Xie Li. Therefore, Si Lan didn’t think the little white dragon could be embarrassed.

 

Furthermore, he had never heard of any species whose scales turned red due to shyness.

 

“In that case, it seems I shouldn’t kiss you so casually in the future.”

 

Si Lan smiled, his lips curved like a gentle breeze, bringing a sense of refreshment.

 

Haowei’s emotions became complex for a moment. He should have been irritated by Si Lan’s impolite behavior, but when he heard Si Lan say that they shouldn’t kiss casually in the future, his heart inexplicably skipped a beat.

 

“Why did you come to me so quickly? Do you miss me?” Si Lan inquired.

 

Hearing this, Haowei immediately jumped out of Si Lan’s arms and retorted coldly, “I didn’t miss you.”

 

He had come to investigate the situation in Daming, but as soon as he arrived in the Demon Realm, he witnessed the scene where the Lord of the Deer and the others defied the authority of Si Lan.

 

Si Lan, as the Demon Lord, seemed to be sitting on a rather unstable throne.

 

Si Lan was puzzled, “When did you arrive?”

 

“Just now.”

 

Si Lan was at a loss for words. He had heard that in the Heavenly Realm, when the heavenly beings and various creatures saw a true dragon, they would be suppressed by its aura and unable to move. So, when the Divine Phoenix women had suddenly knelt in fear, was it because they saw the little white dragon?

 

It seemed like this little accident had inadvertently solved his problems.

 

Si Lan couldn’t help but comment, “Little guy, it seems like you have a talent for attracting husbands.”

 

Haowei, “…”

---

T/N: Hey there! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

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Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

 

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