The Demon Realm had its grand ceremony these two days, and Ye Jisheng was rather busy. Jian Zhen did not see him much. But although both were grand ceremonies, even though many people came this time to the Demon Clan, truly not a single person entered the rear hall to disturb or harm it. Thus, Jian Zhen passed two peaceful days. These days it was extremely sleepy, and so it really did sleep for two days.
When it awoke again, having had a long, good sleep, a clear sandalwood fragrance drifted over.
The Immortal Mountain lay beneath eternally unmelted vast white snow.
The little grass on the windowsill shook its leaves, then heard voices speaking from not far away.
“Immortal Lord Wangyou, I’ve already heard about Changle’s matter this time. It’s all because I, as her elder brother, have indulged her too much in daily life and failed to teach her properly, which led to her injuring the immortal grass you raise. I apologize to you on her behalf. I have already had Royal Father punish her by confining her to the ancestral hall. Once she comes out, I will bring her personally to apologize!”
The soft sounds of conversation rose from beside the table.
The little grass by the window, upon hearing matters concerning itself, curiously peeked toward the interior of the room.
The white-robed immortal seated by the table held a teacup. Fu Changhuan said, “This matter has already passed. The yao race and the immortal race have been friendly clans for generations. My immortal grass was not harmed, so Your Highness the Eldest Prince need not be like this.”
Hearing this, Jian Zhen also lightly nodded its leaves.
Knowing one’s mistake and correcting it is enough!
Besides, it was no longer angry now. It was definitely not the kind of little grass that held grudges!
The Eldest Prince smiled faintly. He wore a pale green robe of floating-light brocade, with a precious king’s crown of jadeite on his head. “This time, apart from apologizing on behalf of my younger sister, there is actually another matter I wish to discuss with the Immortal Lord.”
Fu Changhuan’s cool face remained calm. “What matter?”
The Crown Prince spoke frankly, “All three realms know that back then the Demon God was sealed by the God-Slaying Grand Formation of Wanmie Mountain, losing half of his power. It was only because of this that the three realms have been able to coexist in peace. One must know that before the Demon God appeared, their demon race were merely our slaves. Wanmie Mountain opens once every tens of millions of years, and it is now less than a hundred years until the next opening…”
Spotless snowflakes drifted down, blowing in cold wind from the window before melting away.
Fu Changhuan set down his cup. “Your Highness the Eldest Prince is worried about Ye Jisheng recovering his power?”
“As expected of Immortal Venerable Wangyou, truly wise.” The Eldest Prince smiled. “The Demon God already inspires such terror with only half his power. If Wanmie Mountain erupts again, and if at that time he regains his strength, I fear our days will be difficult. I once heard my royal father say that the closer it gets to the eruption of Wanmie Mountain, the more violently the curse on his body will flare up. It would be better if our two clans joined forces…”
Though the two were not speaking about it, the little grass by the window, which had originally been bored, suddenly trembled its leaves, its heart unconsciously tightening.
Although Ye Jisheng always liked to bully it, it still did not wish for him to encounter any danger.
Fu Changhuan’s face was as handsome as jade. His eyes were icy yet clear. He said, “Your Highness, the immortal race and the yao race can be considered to have some friendship, so I can offer you a single sentence.”
The Eldest Prince’s adam’s apple moved slightly as he asked, “What is it?”
Fu Changhuan’s white robes were like snow, unstained by dust. He spoke calmly, “Ye Jisheng is the Demon God. A divine body is undying and indestructible, save for the God-Slaying Grand Formation.”
The Crown Prince clenched his hand tightly. “Is there truly no other way?”
The little grass by the window also felt its heart lift with tension.
On the table, freshly brewed tea released wisps of heat that drifted into the air, dispersing into strands of fine mist.
Fu Changhuan finally said, “There is.”
The Crown Prince’s eyes lit up. “What is it?”
Fu Changhuan’s long fingers held the cup in his hand. He finally raised his eyes to look at him, and his cool voice sounded, “In this world, apart from the God-Slaying Grand Formation, the only thing that can kill a god is the god himself.”
The Crown Prince gave an incredulous laugh. “How could that be possible? Who would willingly go to their death? Moreover, the Demon God is cold and ruthless. How could he slay himself?”
Fu Changhuan said, “All beings have two sides. There is no fixed certainty.”
The Crown Prince found it hard to imagine. “Then what would that bloodthirsty, slaughter-loving Demon God be like in private?”
Fu Changhuan slightly lifted his cool face. He looked at the little grass swaying by the window, and a hint of gentle ripples appeared in his eyes that had known no waves since ancient times. “Perhaps in this world, only he himself knows.”
The little grass eavesdropping by the window suddenly felt guilty.
Th-that might not be entirely true.
In this world, besides that Demon King himself, perhaps it also understood a little.
But…
Thinking of the consequences of daring to leak the big demon’s secrets…
A certain little grass instinctively shuddered all over, hurriedly shaking its head. The little grass doesn’t know, it has nothing to do with the little grass!
***
Demon race, grand ceremony.
Yan Ji, who was responsible for taking care of the immortal grass, was staring at the pot of immortal grass with some worry.
Ye Jisheng walked over from the corridor, his gaze landing on her as he spoke to ask, “What are you standing there for?”
Yan Ji hurriedly knelt down. “Greetings, Your Excellency.”
Ye Jisheng casually lifted his hand. His tall figure, standing only a short distance away, carried an overwhelming sense of pressure. He said, “What has happened?”
“Replying to Your Excellency, these past two days the little grass has been in dormancy for a long time. Even after waking, it seems somewhat listless and often stares blankly.” Yan Ji clasped her hands and reported. “This subordinate worries that something may be wrong with it, so I went to look through books on plants.”
Ye Jisheng raised an eyebrow. “What did you find?”
Jian Zhen, who had just awakened in the pot, felt somewhat stunned upon hearing this. Lately it had only been thinking from time to time about the words of the yao race’s Eldest Prince, so it often got distracted. How did it come to the point of checking books!
Yan Ji replied respectfully, “The books say there are three possible reasons. The first is that it might be ill, but after this subordinate examined it, I found that the immortal grass as a whole has no major issues, so it is not illness.”
After hearing this, the little grass nodded its tiny leaves.
Right, right, how could it possibly get sick so easily!
Yan Ji continued, “The second is that immortal grass is spiritually aware and has gained intelligence. This subordinate speculates that it may be because, during these two days of the demon race’s grand ceremony, Your Excellency has often not been in the rear hall. The immortal grass may not have seen you and thus misses you, causing its condition to be poor!”
As her words fell, silence spread all around.
The little grass in the pot was completely dumbfounded, not even daring to look at Ye Jisheng’s face.
What?
How could it be lovesick with longing, this was simply alarmist nonsense!
It… it at most only missed him a little, truly only a little!
The little grass in the pot proudly put its hands on its hips, trying to express its dissatisfaction to Yan Ji. This little appearance, when it fell into Ye Jisheng’s eyes, carried a few points of stubborn cuteness.
On the Demon God’s usually indifferent face, a smile curved. He drawled leisurely, “Is that so?”
Yan Ji hesitated slightly. “There is, of course, also a third possibility.”
Ye Jisheng seemed to be in a good mood, with a bit more patience. “Go on.”
“Since the little grass already has intelligence, this subordinate speculates that it may want a companion of its own kind!” Yan Ji felt pleased with her own cleverness and took the initiative. “This subordinate has analyzed it. Although this little grass is a plant, since it already has consciousness, perhaps like us ordinary people, it may feel the desire for a partner. Your Excellency, you could find one for it…”
Halfway through her words, she lifted her head and met a pair of icy eyes.
The smile on Ye Jishen’s face vanished without a trace. Those eyes looked at her as though she were a dead person, making Yan Ji feel as if her whole body had been sealed in cold, suspecting that if she said another word she might die.
Jian Zhen by the window was busy feeling ashamed and indignant and did not notice this scene.
Ahhh!
This is so embarrassing for a grass, what does “wanting a companion” even mean, what kind of wording is that?!
The grass leaves curled up.
Suddenly, a somewhat cold voice fell, the tone light but the meaning domineering: “It doesn’t need a companion. My grass, having me is naturally enough.”
Jian Zhen lowered its leaves in confusion and looked over, only to see Ye Jisheng walking over. He extended his hand to a distance of one inch in front of the pot: “Zhuzhu, come here.”
A certain grass: “……”
Don’t call me Zhuzhu!
Ye Jisheng’s hand did not move: “I know you’re awake. If you don’t come over, this Excellency will find some man-eating grass from the neighboring mountain to keep you company.”
??!!
It was absolutely not the kind of grass that could be threatened like this!
A certain little ball of a plant spirit pounced into Ye Jisheng’s palm. It was simply wanting to come out to get some air, that was all!
Ye Jisheng’s lips slightly curved upward.
Leaving the great hall of the demon realm, Jian Zhen thought they were going down the mountain, but did not expect that the demon race’s grand ceremony was not yet over. The past few days were for the various demon tribes to come pay their respects; today was for the major powers of the three realms to come pay their respects.
The demon realm’s towering council hall, enormous dark-gold pillars stood majestic and soaring.
Ye Jisheng sat upon the Demon God’s throne, gazing indifferently at the people below. The little plant spirit on his shoulder was curious at first, but after seeing more, it also became somewhat lazy and drowsy.
Until,
“Yao race Eldest Prince, Yu Minjun arrives!”
Jian Zhen’s entire grass shook.
Below, the Eldest Prince dressed in cyan-green brocade, wearing a valuable hair crown, slowly stepped into the great hall. A smile hung on his face as he cupped his hands and said, “Congratulations on the demon race’s centennial ceremony. I and the Demon Lord have not seen each other for a hundred years. Not long ago, when the Demon Lord passed by the North Sea, you even conveniently helped our yao race resolve the sea yao clan that had troubled us for thousands of years. You truly solved a great problem for us!”
Ye Jisheng lifted his red eyes to glance at him and said lightly, “This Venerable passed by the North Sea and found them rather noisy, so it was merely done in passing. No need to keep it in mind.”
The Eldest Prince revealed a smile and even cupped his hands and bent to perform a salute: “Even so, I still must thank the Demon Lord on behalf of the demon race. I hope the two clans will forever maintain friendship and prosper.”
He smiled openly, with no sign at all of the deep scheming behind it.
Only the little grass on Ye Jisheng’s shoulder knew how this guy had been plotting to harm people on the immortal mountain just yesterday!
In a moment of excitement, the little spirit failed to stand steady and fell from Ye Jisheng’s shoulder into his arms. Seeing Ye Jisheng look over, the little ball steadied itself, bounced once in his palm, and then looked at Ye Jisheng.
This person, you absolutely can’t trust him!
Ye Jisheng lowered his gaze to look at the little spirit in his arms, only to see Jian Zhen staring again at the yao race Eldest Prince. Guests had come before, yet it had never reacted this strongly. He raised an eyebrow meaningfully, recalling Yan Ji’s earlier speculation, and also remembering that this yao race Eldest Prince’s birth mother was a jade locust tree spirit. That meant this prince was also a plant spirit.
Could it be that… this foolish grass of his had really taken a fancy to that tree spirit?
Jian Zhen glared at the Eldest Prince not far away from Ye Jisheng’s palm, thinking whether his coming here might be some sort of plot. As it thought, it turned around wanting to express its thoughts to Ye Jisheng when…
Ye Jisheng’s hand poked the little ball first, drawling slowly, “Save your strength. That green-haired locust tree spirit has a heart as black as ink. A foolish grass like you, going in front of him, after being tricked, you’d still help him count leaves.”
The plant spirit froze: “Ah…?”
Who? Being tricked?
And also, who is the green-haired locust tree spirit?!
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