There was a brief moment of silence in the air.
Only the sound of the wind brushing past them, bringing with it a hint of coolness.
After quite a while, a light chuckle finally fell.
Jian Zhen heard Ye Jisheng say, “These are merely your guesses. This venerable has said it already, it’s just that I don’t wish to have so many flies coming to be an eyesore.”
No admission.
Jian Zhen said gently, “But if they really wanted to snatch the herb, they wouldn’t be your match anyway, right? In your eyes, they wouldn’t be able to hinder you at all.”
The phoenix flew through the heavens, and the evening glow streaked across the sky with brilliant golden light.
Ye Jisheng gave a cold laugh. “You seem to understand this venerable quite well?”
Jian Zhen sat in his arms, wrapped in a warm cloak, and said softly, “No, it’s not that. I just think it’s very strange.”
Ye Jisheng asked him, “Strange in what way?”
On Jian Zhen’s fair little face, his dark eyes trembled slightly as he said softly, “It’s just that, you clearly want to do good deeds, but why are you unwilling to admit it?”
The orange glow of the setting sun spread across the entire sky. Wind rolled the clouds, white clouds and crimson, flame-like sunset clouds resembling spilled ink wash painting, rich and complex in color, yet magnificent.
Ye Jisheng said, “Do you want to know why?”
Jian Zhen nodded. “Mm.”
“Because to this venerable, their lives can be decided with a single thought.” Ye Jisheng said, “If this venerable is in a good mood, they can live. If this venerable is in a bad mood…”
Ye Jisheng curled his lips, his handsome face dangerous and cold.
At this moment, everything was self-evident.
That person from the rumors, temperamental, bloodthirsty and cold, yet supremely arrogant, seemed to finally appear so concretely before Jian Zhen.
Ye Jisheng thought Jian Zhen would be afraid, would be angry.
But Jian Zhen said, “Because they were kind people who helped us, so you were in a good mood. And because the village head and the others were bad people who slaughtered children, you were in a bad mood.”
The habitual smile vanished from Ye Jisheng’s handsome face.
Jian Zhen turned his head slightly, only able to see his crimson eyes. He had always worn that faint, detached smile, but now, it was as if at this very second, a crack had appeared somewhere.
Before he could speak, Jian Zhen let out a soft sigh, saying with a hint of smug satisfaction, “There’s nothing wrong with that. If it were me, I’d do the same.”
The evening glow dyed the sky orange-red, and warm sunlight spilled down onto the two of them. The person who was speaking felt a little drowsy and gently yawned, his eyes even tinged with moisture.
During this period, he had been getting sleepier and sleepier.
Jian Zhen leaned into Ye Jisheng’s embrace and said softly, “I’ll sleep for a bit, okay?”
Before Ye Jisheng could answer, the person leaning against him had already fallen asleep. The cold night wind howled over them, and the man pulled the cloak around him a little tighter.
Jian Zhen fell asleep quickly, and woke up quickly as well.
When he awoke from the cloud bed in the Demon Palace, the sky outside had already turned dark, and orange-yellow night lamps were lit inside the room.
By the table couch not far away, Ye Jisheng was reading the booklet in his hands. Jian Zhen slowly sat up from the cloud bed, and the slightest movement drew the attention of the person by the desk.
Jian Zhen sat up in bed and said, “Did I sleep for a long time?”
Ye Jisheng said, “In a few more hours, the sky will be light.”
Jian Zhen: “……Oh, then it really was a long time.”
Ye Jisheng looked at him, frowned, and said, “Put your shoes on.”
Jian Zhen lowered his head and saw his fair, tender feet. He obediently sat back down and put on his shoes. A maid came in from outside, carrying a bowl of jade dew water that had been kept warm.
Ye Jisheng said to Jian Zhen, “Go eat.”
Jian Zhen walked out. Because he would vomit if the jade dew water had honey added, the jade dew water now was just plain water, with a slightly bitter taste and bland flavor. He drank half a bowl and then set it down.
Ye Jisheng raised an eyebrow. “That’s all you’re drinking?”
Jian Zhen said honestly, “I can’t drink any more.”
Ye Jisheng didn’t say anything further.
Jian Zhen asked him, “What are you reading?”
Ye Jisheng didn’t hide it. He simply put down the booklet in his hand and said, “The High Priest sent it over. It’s a handbook on precautions after members of the demon race become pregnant.”
A trace of confusion crossed Jian Zhen’s small face.
Somewhat unexpected.
But even more curiosity.
Jian Zhen said, “I want to read it too.”
Ye Jisheng didn’t conceal it either. “Go ahead.”
Jian Zhen stood up from beside the table and walked over, full of interest, picking up the book scroll on the table to take a look. Then his entire body froze, and he didn’t move for quite a while.
Ye Jisheng raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong?”
Jian Zhen: “……I can’t read the characters on it.”
As the words fell, the room went quiet.
The ears of the person holding the book scroll also faintly reddened.
Ahhh!
This is so embarrassing for a little grass!
In his previous life, he had at least gone to school, right? How did he transmigrate here and become illiterate?!
Ye Jisheng curled his lips, but didn’t really mock him. He only said lightly, “You’ve just gained sentience and transformed into human form. Not knowing how to read is normal. This one will find some teachers for you in the coming days.”
Jian Zhen: ?!
The little grass was stunned.
If teachers were invited, how awkward would it be to face them alone every day!
Jian Zhen hurriedly said, “Don’t invite a teacher just for me.”
Ye Jisheng turned his gaze toward him. The man, seated in the chair and dressed in black robes, looked lazy in posture, ink-black hair falling behind him. His red eyes settled on Jian Zhen, carrying a dangerous kind of beauty. He said, “You want this venerable to personally teach you?”
A layer of cold sweat suddenly broke out on Jian Zhen’s back, and he had a rather bad premonition.
Letting the Demon Venerable be a teacher, no one in the Three Realms had ever done such a thing before, but what could be foreseen was that he would definitely suffer greatly!
Thinking of this, Jian Zhen hurriedly shook his head and said, “No need, no need.”
Ye Jisheng raised a brow and said, “Then you don’t want to learn to read anymore?”
Jian Zhen hugged the book and answered honestly, “I do. Every day, aside from sleeping or going out with you, I don’t have anything else to do. Before, I had never been pregnant with a baby, but now I am pregnant, and I want to read some books. Not just books about babies, I want to take a look at books from all Three Realms. That way, I’ll be knowledgeable, it’ll be good for the baby’s prenatal education, and I won’t be bored.”
Ye Jisheng had never heard such crooked reasoning before, but he could tell that Jian Zhen was bored.
Staying in the great hall all day long, a certain little grass would wilt. A hundred years of loneliness in a pot made him very afraid of solitude, and the Demon God could not always accompany him at his side.
Thinking of this, Ye Jisheng said, “If you truly want to study, this Venerable can arrange for you to go to the demon clan’s academy to study together.”
Jian Zhen’s eyes lit up: “Really?”
Ye Jisheng lightly nodded and said, “Mm.”
Jian Zhen felt he could accept it. First, he wouldn’t be so bored; second, he wouldn’t have to face a teacher alone so awkwardly; and third, he wouldn’t need to be Ye Jisheng’s student, there wouldn’t be so much pressure!
He hadn’t even had time to be happy yet.
Ye Jisheng said, “But there are conditions.”
Jian Zhen knew it wouldn’t be that simple, but still asked gently, “What is it?”
Ye Jisheng spread out his long palm and said to Jian Zhen, “Give me your hand.”
Jian Zhen walked over, raised his fair and slender wrist, and placed it into his broad palm, looking at him curiously. He saw Ye Jisheng almost grasp his wrist in one motion, and then he could only feel a burst of warmth and a faint numbing sensation. When he lowered his gaze, he could see that a circle of glowing text and spell-like incantations had wrapped around his wrist.
This circle of light flickered once or twice before quickly hiding away again, as if there were nothing at all on his wrist.
Jian Zhen lifted his wrist in confusion and said, “What is this?”
Ye Jisheng said, “This is a protective soul spell containing this Venerable’s divine soul. If you encounter danger, the soul spell will automatically activate, and this Venerable will appear.”
Jian Zhen’s eyes brightened, and he softly exclaimed, “So amazing.”
Ye Jisheng said, “Once the soul spell is planted, it will follow you everywhere and be linked to this Venerable. As long as the soul spell is there, you will not face any danger. Starting from tomorrow, after you enter the academy, this Venerable will not accompany you.”
After all, if that bunch of demon clan disciples saw the Demon Venerable personally present, they probably wouldn’t be able to attend class properly.
Jian Zhen said very sensibly, “Got it, I can do it myself.”
He wasn’t a child anymore.
Needing someone to follow him just to attend school.
Ye Jisheng nodded and said, “The sky hasn’t brightened yet. Go sleep a little longer.”
But Jian Zhen held the book and said, “I just woke up, I can’t sleep. Do you think I should prepare the clothes for going to the academy tomorrow? Do I need to prepare a schoolbag and supplies?”
Ye Jisheng said, “This Venerable will arrange for people to prepare these for you.”
Jian Zhen could only deflate, nodded, and said, “Alright then. What about clothes? Don’t I need to choose them myself?”
Someone going to school for the first time was clearly very excited.
Ye Jisheng waved his hand and said, “No need. You can just wear the academy’s unified school uniform.”
Jian Zhen: “……”
So even in the demon clan, you have to wear a school uniform.
Although he wasn’t sleepy when he had just woken up, Jian Zhen, after lying on the soft couch for a while, was soon overwhelmed by drowsiness after playing for a bit. He fell asleep very quickly, and very deeply, and before long he was even leaning against Ye Jisheng’s shoulder.
When Ye Jisheng lowered his gaze to look, a certain fair-skinned youth was already lightly snoring.
Ye Jisheng put down the book, directly picked the person up horizontally and placed him back on the bed. After covering Jian Zhen with the blanket, he slowly walked out of the great hall. Outside the great hall of the demon realm, the guards were strict. Soldiers stood outside, and when they saw the Demon Venerable come out, they knelt in panic to salute and said, “Greetings, Demon Venerable.”
“Mm, rise.”
Ye Jisheng waved his hand and said, “Pass down the order. Have the headmaster in charge of the academy come to see me.”
The guard was stunned for a moment, not understanding the meaning of why the Demon Venerable suddenly wanted to see the academy’s headmaster at this time.
Ye Jisheng’s expression cooled slightly: “What, did you not hear this Venerable clearly?”
The guard shuddered all over and hurriedly said, “Yes!”
The next day, when Jian Zhen woke up from a night’s sleep, the sun had already risen. Today, he had a rare moment of not sleeping in. After all, it was his first day of school, so no matter what, he was still a little excited.
The maid outside also hadn’t expected this one to get up so early.
The maid came in and said, “Does the honored lord not sleep a bit longer?”
Jian Zhen rubbed his eyes and said, “Not sleeping anymore. I still have to prepare to go to school today.”
The maid paused, then nodded and said, “Yes.”
Jian Zhen didn’t see Ye Jisheng and asked, “Where is the Demon Venerable?”
The maid replied, “Today is our demon clan’s court assembly. All the major priests and elders must attend the meeting in the front council hall. His Excellency is in the front hall right now.”
Jian Zhen then said, “Alright then, I’ll just wash up myself.”
The maid let out a sigh of relief.
Originally, she had been worried that this future honored lord of their demon clan would be willful, but unexpectedly, he was exceptionally easy to get along with.
Jian Zhen, however, felt that it was very normal for both people to have their own things to be busy with. He was a very independent little grass and could take good care of himself!
Yet he hadn’t expected, while washing up and eating, there was suddenly movement outside.
Jian Zhen looked outside in some surprise, and saw someone slowly walking in. Ye Jisheng’s dark-colored hem swept across the cold ground, and along the way, the maids and guards all knelt to pay their respects.
Jian Zhen, who was drinking dew, looked over in confusion: “Why did you come?”
Ye Jisheng raised a brow and said: “This Venerable can’t come?”
Jian Zhen said softly: “But the maid said you went to attend the court assembly.”
“It’s already ended,” Ye Jisheng took the hand towel handed over by the maid and said unhurriedly: “In a moment, this Venerable will send you to the academy. Otherwise, with your foot strength, I’m afraid even when classes dismiss, you still wouldn’t get there.”
Jian Zhen paused, then nodded and said: “Okay.”
He didn’t feel there was anything wrong with this. It was just going together once anyway.
Only the maid behind them was truly shocked!
Who was Ye Jisheng? That was the Demon God who had been cold and inhuman for tens of millions of years, yet such a person was actually going to personally send someone just because a young man might be late for school!
Not only that, Jian Zhen’s warm and gentle voice sounded from beside the table. He said: “I don’t want to drink anymore.”
Ye Jisheng said: “You’ve only drunk these two sips. Won’t you be hungry during the day?”
Jian Zhen said pitifully: “But I really can’t drink anymore.”
According to what the maid knew of the Demon God’s temperament, one not very patient, at this time he might have directly smashed the bowl and sent the one who dared to be ungrateful down to h*ll to drink it.
But…
Ye Jisheng said: “Someone come. Bring the thermos, put the jade dew in it, and have it carried for him to consume during the day.”
Maid: “……Yes.”
Since being transferred to the demon hall, aside from not seeing ghosts, one could say she had seen everything.
After finishing the meal, it was finally time for Jian Zhen to go to the academy.
Ye Jisheng took him down the mountain riding a fire phoenix. The demon clan’s academy was located in the center of Demon Realm City. The scale of the academy was grand, with thoroughfares in all directions, gathering the most outstanding students of the demon clan.
When Jian Zhen stood at the doorway and looked at the plaque that read: Wutong Academy, he exclaimed: “Such a nice name. Does it have any meaning?”
Ye Jisheng spoke lightly: “It does. The academy’s headmaster is named Wutong.”
Jian Zhen: “……”
The little grass fell silent.
They didn’t arrive early. Most of the students had already entered the academy, so there wasn’t anyone at the main entrance at this moment.
Jian Zhen said a little uneasily: “Am I late?”
Ye Jisheng said: “There’s no need to worry about this matter. Your classmates likely won’t mind.”
Jian Zhen didn’t quite believe it and asked: “Why?”
Ye Jisheng pointed inside and said: “Go in and you’ll know.”
Seeing this, Jian Zhen could only nod. The school was right ahead. Ye Jisheng couldn’t accompany him inside any further. Jian Zhen himself held the wooden tag card for his assigned class and went inside to look for the way. This academy was truly very large. In the two- and three-story small buildings, almost every room was filled with students, and such small buildings were scattered throughout the academy.
The wooden tag Jian Zhen held was given to him by Ye Jisheng. On it was written his academy designation. While looking around, he almost collided with someone coming from the opposite direction.
The middle-aged man in a long robe said: “May I ask, are you Young Hero Jian?”
Jian Zhen nodded and said: “That’s me.”
Seeing him nod and admit it, the middle-aged man smiled even more kindly. He said: “This old man is precisely the instructor of your Mo class. I’m on my way to the academy to give lessons. Since we’re going the same way, why not go together?”
Jian Zhen was a bit happy. He hadn’t expected his luck to be this good: “I’ll listen to the instructor.”
The middle-aged man then led him forward, saying as they walked: “Is it Young Hero’s first time entering the academy?”
Jian Zhen said: “Yes.”
“Then if Young Hero encounters any difficulties in daily life, you may come find this old man,” the instructor said proactively. “If the other students are a bit mischievous, you can also come tell this old man.”
Jian Zhen said: “I will get along well with my classmates.”
The instructor smiled and said: “Young Hero indeed has a good temperament.”
Being praised, Jian Zhen smiled a little shyly.
Classmates, what was there not to get along with? The little grass thought. He would definitely be able to quickly become close with all his classmates!!!
Just as he was thinking, the instructor stopped and said: “We’re here.”
Ahead was a closed door. Jian Zhen looked at the door, feeling a bit nervous. He hadn’t expected that so soon he would be meeting his future classmates. How exciting. What kind of people would they be……
The instructor slowly pushed the door open and stepped inside first, smiling as he said: “Sorry to have kept everyone waiting.”
Jian Zhen had just followed inside when he heard the neat and uniform childish voices below: “Greetings, Instructor!”
The dumbfounded little grass froze in place.
The person standing at the doorway was instantly surrounded by the gazes of dozens of children below. As they sized up Jian Zhen, Jian Zhen was also sizing up this group of children. Their ages were roughly around eight to ten. They looked rather young, and some of the children’s baby fat hadn’t even faded yet.
The instructor said cheerfully: “Everyone, this young hero will be studying together with you all in the academy from now on. Everyone, welcome him!”
As his words fell.
The children applauded together, and warm applause rang out in the room again.
For a moment, Jian Zhen wanted to burrow into the ground.
If he had known it would be like this, he might as well have stayed in the demon hall!!
But the instructor smiled and said: “Although Young Hero Jian’s transformation is still shallow, he is eager for knowledge. Though his body is somewhat weak, he still insists on coming to the academy to study together with everyone. Such spirit is truly admirable. From now on, all of you must learn from him and become demon clan people with ideals and pursuits!”
The children’s gazes toward Jian Zhen instantly filled with admiration.
Jian Zhen, who had just been planning to run away: “……”
Under the children’s innocent and pure gazes, a certain little grass squeezed out a smile and said gently: “This is all as it should be. As a demon clan person, one naturally cannot give up because of some small difficulties.”
When the words fell, the children’s gazes toward Jian Zhen upgraded once more, already carrying a bright glow.
Jian Zhen felt extremely guilty.
The instructor said cheerfully: “Alright, then Young Hero Jian can go down below and casually find a seat to sit.”
Jian Zhen stepped forward and went down, finally understanding why Ye Jisheng said that no classmates would mind him being late, and also truly understanding why he could just casually wear a school uniform. After all, with such a group of classmates, he indeed didn’t need to put in any effort at all!!
The instructor said at the front: “Alright, we’ll begin the lesson now. Today we’ll learn new characters. Everyone, please look…”
Although his classmates were all children, the instructor started teaching from the basics, which was indeed very friendly to little demons like Jian Zhen. Sitting below listening to the lesson, he was much more focused.
Very quickly, one lesson ended.
Jian Zhen also felt a bit hungry. After the instructor left, he opened the jade bottle and prepared to drink a little. After taking a few sips, he suddenly felt a gaze constantly staring at him.
He turned his head.
He saw that sitting right next to him, a demon clan boy with yellow hair was staring unblinkingly at the bottle in his hand. The little child kept looking curiously.
After hesitating for a moment, Jian Zhen softly asked: “Do you want some?”
The yellow-haired boy’s eyes instantly lit up like a little dog’s: “Can I?”
Jian Zhen directly handed the bottle over, smiled, and said: “Sure.”
The yellow-haired boy took it and tilted his head back to drink a sip. He hesitated a bit and said: “What is this? It’s like water, so hard to drink.”
Little grass: “……”
What plant spirits liked to drink was certainly different from what the demon clan liked.
But seeing the boy say this, Jian Zhen was still somewhat stunned. Over these hundred years in the demon clan, he could drink jade dew every day, yet he had never known that demon clan people didn’t like jade dew. But the thing he wanted to drink was prepared every day, always kept ready, and no one ever told him how rare it was, or that it was specially prepared.
The people of the demon clan’s great hall, like their honored god, always kept silent.
The yellow-haired boy returned the jade dew to him and said: “But thanks anyway!”
Jian Zhen came back to his senses and smiled: “You’re welcome.”
The yellow-haired little boy said: “Who prepared this for you?”
Jian Zhen hesitated for a moment, then answered: “The one at my home prepared it.”
The yellow-haired little boy said: “Your daddy, or your mommy?”
Jian Zhen couldn’t bring himself to call Ye Jisheng “dad,” so he could only say: “Not mommy.”
The yellow-haired little boy didn’t know what he imagined, but the way he looked at Jian Zhen actually carried some pity. The child suddenly said: “You let me drink water, I’ll also treat you to food.”
Jian Zhen hadn’t expected the child to be so generous. He asked curiously: “What is it?”
The yellow-haired little boy said proudly: “Tomorrow I’ll bring potato cakes my mommy made for you to try. My mommy’s cakes are really delicious, not like your daddy, abusing you by giving you water to drink!”
Jian Zhen smiled and said: “That, that’s not really the case.”
The yellow-haired little boy raised his hand to stop him and said: “Don’t say it, I already know. My dream is to become a great figure as powerful as the Demon God, so I won’t let our demon clan people suffer any more grievances!”
Jian Zhen didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
But the little boy seemed to be a born chatterbox, talking endlessly.
The day passed very quickly.
When school let out, their class was the last to dismiss. The other higher grades hadn’t come out yet. As Jian Zhen walked along, the little boy happily said to him: “My mommy is here to pick me up, right ahead!”
Jian Zhen looked over and indeed saw a very kind-looking woman.
The little boy walked halfway, then hesitantly walked back and said: “Do you want to come home with me?”
In his eyes, Jian Zhen was someone abused at home, with poor health, who could only drink water for meals, truly pitiful. He wanted to be like the Demon Lord he admired and protect the weak demon clan citizens!!
Just as he was thinking this, Jian Zhen looked toward the tree not far away, smiled, and said to the boy: “No need. Someone from my family has come to pick me up too.”
As his words fell, the little boy looked up and saw that under a tree not far away stood a man in a black robe trimmed with gold. His ink-black hair was lifted lightly by the wind. His handsome face carried a hint of languidness, and a pair of red eyes were exceptionally dazzling. Just standing there alone, he carried an air of ruling the world.
Just when Jian Zhen thought he would finally not misunderstand anymore, the little boy fell silent for a moment, then raised his head in surprise to look at Jian Zhen and blurted out: “The Demon Lord is your daddy?!”
Jian Zhen: “……”
The baby in his belly: Huh?
Are you okay bro?!?
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