Chapter 91 (Extra 13)
*Smack.*
Bian Rang turned around, his palm striking Jiuying’s face hard.
Jiuying covered half of his face in astonishment, staring blankly at Bian Rang.
Bian Rang’s eyes were no longer as clear and lost as when he had just been reborn; they now carried a coldness, as deep and lonely as an abyss.
He must have remembered something.
The corner of Jiuying’s mouth twitched, his voice unconsciously lowering: “Bian Rang.”
Bian Rang ignored him, turning away to continue looking at Xie Li. Xie Li, startled by the slap just now, still had wild berries in his mouth, swallowing nervously while looking timidly at Bian Rang.
This handsome older brother was quite fierce!
He was most afraid of people like this.
Unexpectedly, when Bian Rang turned around, his face suddenly lit up with a gentle smile like a spring breeze, his eyes and brows filled with tenderness. He bent down and patted Xie Li’s head: “What’s your name?”
”Xie Li.”
This big brother changes his expression so quickly.
Xie Li couldn’t help muttering to himself, swallowing unconsciously, a piece of unchewed wild berry stuck in his throat, making his face turn red from being choked.
He pinched his throat trying to cough out the fruit, but couldn’t.
Bian Rang quickly reached out to help him relax, patting his back: “What’s wrong? Is it stuck?”
”Mm-hmm.” Xie Li’s eyes were red from choking, his chubby face turning even redder as he dry heaved, unable to vomit.
Seeing Xie Li in discomfort, Bian Rang’s heart tightened: “Xiao Li, let me hold you upside down, see if it helps you vomit it out.” In his urgency, he forgot his own magic skills and just wanted to help Xie Li by traditional means.
Fortunately, Jiuying hadn’t lost his composure. He stepped forward: “Let me.” He placed his hand on Xie Li’s throat and used magic to soften the stuck fruit.
Xie Li immediately stopped coughing, gently breathing out, softly thanking Jiuying: “Thank you, Big Snake.”
Jiuying’s face blushed slightly.
Bian Rang glanced at Jiuying, then refocused on Xie Li’s face, overflowing with affection in his eyes.
Upon closer inspection, Xie Li bore a resemblance to himself by about five or six points. Especially his mouth, which had a thin crescent-shaped curve, almost identical to his own.
Bian Rang bent down, his gaze level with Xie Li’s: “Would you like some water?”
Xie Li shook his head.
Bian Rang reached out to touch Xie Li’s brows and cheeks, murmuring softly: “Xiao Li, how have you been in the Demon Realm?”
Xie Li nodded: “I’ve been well. His Majesty treats me well, and so does Senior Brother.”
The Big Snake asked him the same question last time.
It’s really strange.
Why does everyone keep asking him if he’s doing well?
Bian Rang pursed his lips, intending to ask Xie Li if he wanted to leave with him, when suddenly, Quze’s voice echoed from afar.
”Ah Li.”
Xie Li hurriedly skipped over to Quze. Quze’s face was tense; the young boy’s figure was as tall and slender as an adult’s, with clearly defined knuckles tapping on Xie Li’s shoulder.
He nodded towards Jiuying and Bian Rang: “It’s time for school. I’ll take Xie Li to the academy.”
”School?” Bian Rang exclaimed in surprise.
”Yes, His Majesty established an academy. Before turning nine hundred, all demons in the Demon Realm must attend to study and practice.” Thus, after Quze escorted Xie Li to the academy, he would go practice alone.
After adulthood, his studies diverged from Xie Li’s, focusing mainly on spellcasting. Before adulthood, children like Xie Li mainly learned literacy and the laws of the six realms and five elements.
Bian Rang was speechless upon hearing this.
Nine hundred years… Demons actually have to study for nine hundred years?
No wonder he felt something was amiss when he came to the Demon Realm.
In his memory, the Demon Realm was rampant with monsters, constant wars, and everywhere was filled with blood and corpses. But now, the Demon Realm exuded a sense of peace and prosperity everywhere…
”Goodbye.” Holding Quze’s hand, Xie Li waved at Jiuying and Bian Rang.
Bian Rang silently watched Xie Li’s departing figure, hesitated for a moment, held his breath, concealed his figure, and followed behind Xie Li.
He wanted to see how Xie Li was living in the Demon Realm.
Jiuying also concealed himself and followed behind Bian Rang. Since realizing Bian Rang had regained his memories, Jiuying had been minimizing his presence, silently guarding Bian Rang. In his hand, a colorful paper umbrella appeared, shading Bian Rang from the sunlight.
He remembered how he used to fear the sun.
Because the sun could make people ugly.
“Shixiong, who are they?” Xie Li curiously asked Quze.
Quze glanced ahead. “They are His Majesty’s friends.”
“Ah, His Majesty’s friends? So, if they come to see me, do they want to be friends with me too?” Xie Li exclaimed in surprise, opening his mouth wide to reveal a small cavity in his teeth.
Quze didn’t respond, but his brow furrowed slightly, his expression tinged with unease. Xie Li spoke several times without hearing Quze reply, so he couldn’t help but shake Quze’s arm and coquettishly plead, “Shixiong, why aren’t you speaking?”
“Shixiong is here,” Quze reluctantly responded. At the academy, he instructed him, “Behave and listen to the teacher today. Shixiong will come to fetch you after his cultivation.”
Pouting, Xie Li noticed that Shixiong seemed distracted just now and realized he might not be happy, so he said, “Shixiong, come down.”
Without asking why, Quze bent down.
Xie Li approached, pinched Quze’s cheeks, and rubbed them on both sides. “Shixiong, if you don’t want them to be my friends, I won’t see them again.”
Quze’s usually expressionless face softened slightly as Xie Li squeezed and flattened his cheeks, his eyes showing a hint of helplessness and indulgence. He also pinched Xie Li’s cheek, “What nonsense are you saying? Go study.”
“Okay!” Xie Li chuckled and turned away, not forgetting to mutter as he ran, “Shixiong, remember to come pick me up quickly tonight.”
“Mm.” Quze stood up, a smile playing at his lips under the warm sunlight.
Bian Rang glanced at Quze, his figure flickering, and followed Xie Li into the academy.
Once inside, Bian Rang’s expression darkened slightly.
He had expected the little devils in the academy to be as delicate and cute as his own son, noble and elegant. However, these little devils were oddly shaped, crooked-mouthed, emitting a unique demonic aura.
To Bian Rang, it was akin to poison.
Meanwhile, Xie Li was enjoying himself. Before the teacher arrived, he rode on the back of an elephant demon, played tag, plucked a few whiskers from a goat-like creature, and frightened several chicken spirits into a chaotic run, disrupting the peace of the entire academy.
After having his fill of fun, he pretended to sit properly on a small stool, waiting for the teacher.
“…” Bian Rang sighed inwardly.
Beside him, Jiuying tilted his paper umbrella towards Bian Rang, blocking all sunlight from above. Annoyed, he said, “Children are always so mischievous.”
Bian Rang still ignored Jiuying, sitting at a corner of the small stool, observing Xie Li reading his book.
It was an ancient legend with annotations.
As Xie Li flipped through the pages, he suddenly stopped. Bian Rang lowered his eyes and saw that the annotation told the story of Jiuying assassinating a tyrant, accompanied by an illustration.
The drawing depicted a nine-headed serpent revealing its true form, wielding a long halberd to kill the tyrant Bian Rang.
While the world knew this story, it didn’t capture the exact details, hence the discrepancy in the illustration.
Xie Li stared at the drawing, his face becoming serious.
Bian Rang glanced at Xie Li, even noticing the tiny soft hairs on his face, feeling a surge of indescribable affection and tenderness. He thought Xie Li had realized something, but then heard him mutter, “The big snake is quite powerful.”
Xie Li turned the page and continued reading other stories.
*
In the afternoon, Quze arrived promptly to fetch Xie Li. Xie Li shared what he had learned with Quze, who occasionally nodded or quizzed him.
Though young, Xie Li had a good memory. Each correct answer prompted him to bounce around Quze, pestering him for candies.
Quze just smiled and shook his head.
…
When Bian Rang initially planned to take Xie Li away, he wanted to keep Xie Li by his side. After observing for a day, he changed his mind. The figures of one large and one small, under the sunset’s glow, gradually disappeared into Zhuyun Peak.
He couldn’t bear to disturb Xie Li’s peace and happiness.
Living together with him wouldn’t be as good as letting him stay with his senior brother, who lost his arm.
“Junli, thank you.”
He thanked him for taking care of his child so well. Without Fanyu and Junli, Xie Li would have ceased to exist long ago. Such a weak spirit fetus, not even full-term, unable to survive without feeding on the blood of the heart.
Fanyu and Junli nurtured him for a hundred thousand years before he survived.
Thinking of this, Bian Rang looked up at the vast sky.
This should be the happiest and most worthwhile thing since his resurrection.
Otherwise, even if he was resurrected, he wouldn’t be able to accept Jiuying without the child.
Jiuying stood by his side and whispered, “Do we still need to continue following Little Li?”
Bian Rang withdrew his gaze, glanced at Jiuying, said nothing, and his figure turned into a swift white arrow disappearing into the distance. Jiuying saw this and folded his paper umbrella, also transforming into an arrow, closely following behind Bian Rang.
Bian Rang returned to Sanxu Mountain, soaking in the hot spring pool. His fair face was surrounded by wisps of mist, his deep black eyes occasionally visible.
He remained motionless, resembling a sculpture in the water.
Jiuying came several times, sometimes bringing fresh clothes, sometimes bringing spices, sometimes a pot of jade wine and a plate of fruit pills, saying he had been soaking too long and needed to replenish his strength.
Bian Rang didn’t expect Jiuying to become so considerate and gentle. After delivering the items, Jiuying stood at the entrance of the cave quietly without leaving.
When Bian Rang stood up from the water, Jiuying hurried forward, finding a towel to help him dry his body.
He glanced sideways at Jiuying and saw Jiuying lowering his head, cheeks blushing.
After carefully wiping him dry, Jiuying brought him a small garment and inner clothes, intending to help him dress.
He finally couldn’t bear it and spoke up, “There’s really no need for you to do this.”
“Bian Rang…” Jiuying raised his head, murmuring as he looked at him.
The deep affection in his eyes seemed to flow like water.
Bian Rang couldn’t help but avoid his gaze. “When I slapped you before, it was for the child’s sake. You don’t owe me anything; you just owe it to the child.”
“No, I also owe you.” Jiuying couldn’t help but clench the clothes in his hands. Whenever he recalled that scene from years ago, he regretted it bitterly. He killed the only person in this world who truly loved him.
At that time, he only felt like a cruel tyrant, but he didn’t realize he was also his moonlight, the love of his life.
“In fact, even if you didn’t kill me, I would have perished sooner or later.”
Since he brought Jiuying back to the Ninth Heaven, he had already prepared himself to be killed by Jiuying, but he didn’t expect to have Xie Li.
Jiuying gathered his courage, reached out slowly, and embraced Bian Rang. “But… you should blame me.”
He didn’t blame him; instead, he felt uncomfortable inside.
Bian Rang didn’t push him away, his eyes silently gazing at him.
Jiuying didn’t know when his eyes turned red, tears accumulating. Clearly, for tens of thousands of years, ever since he became conscious in the Extreme Sound Eight Trigram Array, he had been shedding tears, tears that had run dry.
But why could he still shed tears after meeting Bian Rang?
Tears dripped from the corners of his eyes.
Crystal-clear teardrops reflected Bian Rang’s face.
Bian Rang reached out and gently brushed away the tears from Jiuying’s eyes, as if in that instant, the chasm in his heart was also swept away.
One hundred thousand years.
Round and round, so many years had passed.
They were never meant to meet, to love each other, yet they still met and loved during the final stretch of his life.
Bian Rang had never regretted it. Every moment with Jiuying helped him finally understand the meaning of living in his long life.
Having something to hold onto, someone to love.
Apart from the scar that would never fade away, he also gained a love that was etched into his heart like a blazing fire.
Bian Rang’s eyes reddened too. He slightly parted his lips and murmured Jiuying’s name, “Jiuying.” They had missed each other for a hundred thousand years. During these years, he dissipated across the Six Realms while Jiuying was suppressed by the formation, suffering and regretting daily, enduring endless pain.
He suffered more than him.
That’s why he couldn’t bear to blame him anymore.
Bian Rang held Jiuying by the neck and gently kissed the corner of Jiuying’s lips.
Jiuying’s eyes widened instantly, his breath caught, and only the sound of his own frantic heartbeat echoed in his ears.
Bian Rang… Bian Rang had actually kissed him first!
He wanted to continue feeling that kiss, but Bian Rang had already withdrawn from his lips.
Feeling unsatisfied, he instinctively hugged Bian Rang, like a wild beast gone mad, fiercely pulling Bian Rang into his embrace. One hand encircled Bian Rang’s waist, the other firmly gripped the back of his neck, asserting dominance with a strong and forceful kiss that covered Bian Rang’s face.
“Bian Rang!”
T/N: Okies, almost 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!
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!
Leave a Reply