After Running Away Pregnant, I Ended Up on the Wanted Lists of Both the Demon Venerable and the Immortal Venerable Chapter 41

Seeing that Jian Zhen seemed hesitant to speak, the steward immediately knelt down and said, “This old servant has spoken too much. If Master dislikes it, this old servant deserves death. I will never mention it again.”

Jian Zhen was still a bit muddleheaded. It wasn’t that he didn’t understand the steward’s meaning. Although he was a modern person, he understood history, he just hadn’t expected that this world was the same.

However, he had never thought about such things before.

Jian Zhen stopped the person from kowtowing and said, “Get up. I’m not angry.”

The steward rose half-believing and half-doubting, praising him: “Master is truly magnanimous. No wonder Master dotes on you so much. With you here, how could the household not be peaceful!”

Jian Zhen: “……”

The great hall of the Demon Palace had only ever had one blade of grass for hundreds of years.

As for household peace, rather than peaceful, it could be described as quiet.

The whole day passed in an ordinary way. Jian Zhen did not take such a small matter to heart.

Until dusk.

There was the sound of servants paying respects in the courtyard. Jian Zhen, who had been sitting by the courtyard basking in the sun, turned his head and saw Ye Jisheng in black robes stepping in, as if treading on the damp air of twilight. His tall figure carried an imposing presence as he walked slowly forward.

The servants along the way all knelt in salute.

Ye Jisheng crossed the empty garden and stood before Jian Zhen. “If you’re sleepy, why didn’t you go inside to sleep?”

Jian Zhen gave a small yawn. “I wanted to wait for you to come back before sleeping.”

Ye Jisheng let out a cold laugh. “If this Venerable did not return today, would you not sleep?”

“You would return.” On Jian Zhen’s fair little face, the corners of his eyes were still moist from the yawn. He said gently, “I know that whatever you promise me, you will do.”

Ye Jisheng reached out to pull him up. His hand was pale and slender, pleasing to the eye. Yet it was such a hand that had killed people during the day, stained with countless blood and sins.

Jian Zhen placed his hand into his palm.

Warm.

Completely opposite to the cold appearance of that hand, his palm was so gentle.

Jian Zhen said, “Have you finished your matters?”

Ye Jisheng replied lightly, “Mm.”

The twilight of the setting sun slowly fell, gradually taking away the warmth of the day. Ye Jisheng said, “That little demon from the demon clan was lucky enough to escape the forest and exposed this Venerable’s whereabouts, drawing in a few little bugs.”

Jian Zhen was somewhat surprised. “Why would he do that?”

Ye Jisheng seemed to have heard a joke. “This Venerable has said before, there are many in the Three Realms who wish to take my life while I am weak.”

A god about to undergo a heavenly tribulation, who had also gone through battle with the immortal clan, severely injured in vitality, with his divine soul not yet fully restored, this could be said to be his weakest stage. Naturally, it would attract quite a few people.

Jian Zhen looked at him worriedly.

Ye Jisheng said indifferently, “In the Three Realms, as long as this Venerable does not wish to die, the one who can take my life has not yet appeared.”

Jian Zhen quickly covered his mouth. “Bah, bah, bah, don’t keep putting the word ‘die’ on your lips. It’s unlucky.”

This was an extremely bold action.

Ye Jisheng’s lips brushed against his soft palm. Jian Zhen carried a faint scent of green grass, soft and gentle. The man’s cool eyes fell upon him. Their gazes met.

Jian Zhen blinked and withdrew his hand.

Ye Jisheng said expressionlessly, “I’ve noticed, you seem to be getting bolder lately.”

Jian Zhen said, “Yes.”

The grass that someone raises develops the temperament that someone indulges.

He didn’t know since when, but he had grown less and less afraid of him.

Ye Jisheng entered the room and sat down on a chair. “Did anything happen in the residence today?”

After entering the room, Jian Zhen rested on the soft couch and said lightly, “Nothing special.”

After thinking carefully, Jian Zhen sat up again from the couch. “Oh, I remembered. The steward asked me, afraid you’d feel bored, if she should find a few people to relieve your boredom.”

Ye Jisheng played with the fabric at the corner of Jian Zhen’s clothing and said lightly, “This Venerable does not wish to kill lately.”

Jian Zhen: “……”

He knew it.

“That’s not what they meant.” Jian Zhen thought of the steward’s words. “Maybe because they misunderstood the relationship between us, they were afraid you’d feel lonely because I’m pregnant.”

The temperature in the room dropped several degrees instantly.

Ye Jisheng’s gaze fell over. His originally dark eyes seemed to carry a faint red glow. He parted his lips and said, “This Venerable also does not wish to kill grass. If you still want to live, shut your mouth.”

So fierce.

Little Grass was a bit confused, not knowing why he had suddenly become so angry.

Jian Zhen wanted to sit back on the couch, but he didn’t steady himself, and his calf cramped. He sucked in a breath from the pain. His fair little face scrunched up, a pained sound escaping.

Ye Jisheng’s expression changed. He came over. “What’s wrong?”

Jian Zhen’s eyes were already red. He said softly, “My leg cramped.”

It had already been over six months. His belly had developed a curve, like a small round watermelon. But this was the first time his leg had cramped, and it hurt so much he was about to cry.

Ye Jisheng’s hand fell on his calf. “Don’t move.”

Jian Zhen did not dare move.

With Ye Jisheng’s hand on his calf, Jian Zhen felt a warm current enter his meridians, slowly soothing the pain of the cramp. The original pain lessened considerably.

Jian Zhen looked at him and said softly, “It doesn’t seem to hurt as much anymore.”

Ye Jisheng withdrew his hand. “Your body is heavier now. Once the matters here are finished, we will return.”

Jian Zhen nodded obediently. Looking at Ye Jisheng’s profile, he said, “You’re not angry anymore?”

Ye Jisheng was so angry he laughed: “Why don’t you tell me, why is this Lord angry?”

Jian Zhen: “……”

How would he know why he was angry?

But he really was angry just now!

He was even going to kill grass, if that’s not anger, what is? In the past, even when Lord Demon God scared him, he had never said something like that!

Jian Zhen said, “I don’t know either.”

Ye Jisheng glanced at him from the side, his gaze cool, his expression somewhat dark and gloomy. That ambiguous expression instantly made a certain little blade of grass not dare to probe further.

Jian Zhen hurriedly said, “I won’t ever mention finding someone to relieve your boredom again.”

Ye Jisheng sneered lightly.

Jian Zhen grew sleepy again. While yawning he said, “Then don’t trouble the steward either. She doesn’t understand our relationship and didn’t mean any harm…”

The overly sleepy person was directly lifted sideways and placed onto the bed.

Jian Zhen had barely any awareness before he fell asleep. During the day, when Ye Jisheng wasn’t by his side, he simply couldn’t sleep well. Now, it wasn’t long before he drifted into dreamland.

Three days later.

Daoist Shenji arrived at the small town.

These past two days the town had not been peaceful. Every household was trying to gather offerings, all placing their hopes on rainfall to change the severe drought.

Early in the morning, Jian Zhen dragged Ye Jisheng to the eastern square of the city.

On the originally empty square stood a tall altar. On it was an offering table, with a large pig’s head placed on top along with an array of dazzling dishes. On wooden platforms on both sides stood tall flags. Torches burned, and below were piled many animal corpses. Fresh blood was poured into braziers, and the stench of blood filled the air.

Jian Zhen almost wanted to vomit.

Ye Jisheng casually used a spell to block out the smell, and only then did he feel better.

The old man waved from not far away: “You two, over here!”

Jian Zhen and Ye Jisheng walked over. The old man had long secured a good spot. He said, “Once the ceremony starts, you’ll see the Daoist’s mighty display!”

More villagers gradually arrived.

Jian Zhen and Ye Jisheng stood at the edge. Taking advantage of the crowd, he whispered to Ye Jisheng, “I feel something’s not right. Whether it’s the Immortal Clan or the Demon Clan, I’ve never seen a rain-summoning formation like this.”

Ye Jisheng’s handsome, cold profile remained indifferent. He curved his lips in a faint smile: “This is a Ghost Clan spell long forbidden, using wandering souls as sacrifice, transforming them into spiritual force to wield the art.”

Jian Zhen said, “What will happen to those wandering souls?”

“In the proper Six Paths, they should follow heaven’s mandate and reincarnate,” Ye Jisheng said. “But souls driven by this method will have their souls scattered and be unable to reincarnate.”

Jian Zhen froze.

Although the offerings on the altar were merely cattle and sheep livestock, all things have spirit. Even animals have life and should have the right to live. Even if they die, how could their souls not be spared?

As he was thinking—

Not far away, a group slowly approached. It was Daoist Shenji, surrounded and escorted by villagers.

From afar.

Daoist Shenji wore a large yellow robe and walked at the center of the crowd. As he walked, he looked at the offerings on the altar and shook his head: “Still not enough. If you want heavier rain, you can’t be reluctant with the offerings…”

The town chief was a thin middle-aged man. Awkwardly, he said, “But… but this is all each household in the town has…”

The Daoist said displeased, “If that’s the case, then you can’t blame me if the rain I pray for is scant.”

The pitiful town chief quickly said, “No, no, no—Daoist, please don’t be angry. We’ll think of another way.”

He hurriedly instructed the townspeople to think of more ways to gather offerings and silver. This put many of them in difficulty.

Daoist Shenji snorted lightly: “This poor Daoist isn’t doing this for himself. With so few offerings, even if I agree, Heaven will not!”

As soon as he finished speaking,

A clear voice came from the crowd. Jian Zhen said, “I don’t think that’s necessarily true.”

Daoist Shenji’s face changed instantly. He looked over. “Who?”

Jian Zhen met his gaze and calmly said, “If Heaven has its own Dao, it would not exchange rainfall through such cruelty, slaughtering countless living beings.”

Daoist Shenji raged, “They’re just beasts! What does it matter if they’re sacrificed? You’re from outside the city, aren’t you? Ignorant of the hardships of the mortal world, spouting nonsense, truly absurd!”

The air fell silent for a moment.

Ye Jisheng let out a cold laugh. Before he even spoke, Jian Zhen knew this god had been provoked.

Jian Zhen didn’t even have time to speak.

Ye Jisheng leisurely stepped forward. With just one lift of his foot, he kicked the previously arrogant Daoist to the ground. The man stepped over the Daoist’s body, and the sound of bones cracking could be heard.

The town chief stared in shock.

Under the watchful eyes of all the villagers, Ye Jisheng then walked up to the altar and, with one kick, overturned it. The animal corpses soaked in blood and about to be burned rolled down. Amid the villagers’ horrified gazes, he said indifferently, “Bury or eat these livestock.”

Daoist Shenji struggled to his feet in disbelief. Trembling, he pointed at the arrogant figure on the altar: “What are you doing? You’ve destroyed the altar, do you still want rain or not?”

One stone stirred a thousand waves.

Many townspeople reacted, their faces full of sorrow over the matter of rain.

Seizing the moment, Daoist Shenji incited public anger: “Everyone look! It’s him, he destroyed the altar! The gods will be enraged and will never send rain again! You will all die!!”

His words terrified the common people.

A trembling villager knelt down:

“Please, gods, do not blame us.”

“Yes, spare us.”

“Please, don’t blame us…”

More and more suffering townspeople knelt and kowtowed in the square. For a moment, cries of misery filled the air. Just as even Jian Zhen felt somewhat unable to bear it—

On the platform, Ye Jisheng let out a cold laugh. With another kick he shattered the wine jars and braziers used for worship behind him. The crashing sound echoed loudly, and the square below fell into complete silence. What he did seemed absurd, yet he was calm and methodical, leisurely smashing the entire altar. His tall figure carried an overwhelming sense of oppression, no one below even dared approach, they could only watch him act.

Daoist Shenji trembled. “Y-you, how dare you smash the altar of worship?”

Ye Jisheng’s icy gaze fell downward as he said, “So what if I did?”

Daoist Shenji was about to speak again.

Ye Jisheng spoke first: “What Heavenly Dao? What great drought? A hundred li outside your town there is a stream. If this land suffers drought, then build canals to divert water. There are thousands upon thousands of roads one can take. What use is kneeling here praying all day? If a god requires blood sacrifice and devastation of living beings before it is willing to send rain, then what if you don’t worship it?”

The entire square was silent. Everyone could see that black figure standing atop the high platform. The wind blew, and he stood amid crimson ruins, his indifferent and cold gaze like a deity from the Ninth Heaven.

Sunlight poured down.

It fell upon every resident of the small town. The wind scattered the stench of blood everywhere.

Ye Jisheng walked to Jian Zhen’s side. Each of his steps was unhurried, calm and casual, as if he had merely returned from a stroll. “We’re going back.”

As if waking from a dream, Jian Zhen reached out and held his hand.

When Ye Jisheng passed the town chief, he somehow produced a luminous pearl from nowhere and tossed it to him. In a flat tone he said, “If the altar were truly useful, your town would not be in this state. If you do not save yourselves, let alone an altar, no one can save you.”

After speaking, without waiting for anyone to react, he pulled Jian Zhen away.

They returned all the way to the residence.

Jian Zhen still felt lingering fear and quietly asked, “We smashed the altar, will they refuse to let us go?”

Hearing the word we, Ye Jisheng glanced at him sideways and gave an ambiguous smile. “What, are you not angry that this Lord smashed their altar?”

Jian Zhen asked in confusion, “Why would I be angry? You didn’t do anything wrong.”

Ye Jisheng was rarely a little surprised.

In the past, no matter what he did, as long as it involved burning, killing, looting, his little grass would puff up his cheeks in displeasure.

Jian Zhen said, “What you did was right. Such sacrifices shouldn’t exist. There truly are gods in this world, but if one can only receive a response through such cruel means, then why must it be worshiped? Besides, I think you’re right, what you want, you must fight for yourself. Only by building canals to obtain water can they save themselves!”

Ye Jisheng said lightly, “Oh, the canal? I only said that casually. To complete that canal would take at least five years. By then, this town would probably already be extinct.”

Jian Zhen was shocked. “Ah, then you were lying to them?”

Ye Jisheng leaned lazily against the couch and smiled.

The moment Jian Zhen saw that smile, he knew he was teasing him. He quickly leaned closer and tugged at his clothes. “Hurry and tell me!”

At last Ye Jisheng turned his gaze out the window and said, “If nothing unexpected happens, it will rain in a few days.”

Jian Zhen was stunned. “Why?”

“The fire on the altar just now,” Ye Jisheng said. “It burned the woods behind the Earth Temple and disrupted the feng shui formation there. The blood of the cattle and sheep from the altar has seeped into the soil, enough for it to recover for a few days. The rain will fall soon.”

Jian Zhen froze. At that time he thought the man was simply smashing things recklessly, but he hadn’t expected that beneath those seemingly casual actions, everything had already been calculated.

Meeting Ye Jisheng’s dark eyes, Jian Zhen felt as though he understood this man a little more. He softly said, “Then let’s wait together.”

Ye Jisheng said, “What, not worried that this Lord is deceiving you?”

“You wouldn’t deceive me.” Jian Zhen leaned into his arms. “I know.”

Because the people of the Demon Clan once lived in dire suffering, you cannot bear to see other races’ common people suffer. Because Ye Jisheng, you are that god who is always sharp-tongued but soft-hearted.

The next day

Awakening from sleep, Jian Zhen heard noise outside while in the courtyard. He stepped out of the house and saw a group of villagers outside holding hoes and tools. For a moment, he thought they had come to seek revenge.

Just as he grew tense, the old man at the front stepped forward and said, “Young master, yesterday we all discussed it. You were right. If we always rely on Daoists and altars, how long can we last? We’ve talked it over, some of us will go outside the town to carry water in, and some will dig canals. Although this will take a long time, as long as we persist, even a great drought can be overcome!”

Jian Zhen hadn’t expected the old man and the others to say this.

Many other villagers stood behind him, all casting friendly looks.

After finally confirming everyone’s intentions, Jian Zhen smiled and nodded. “Mm, I believe the drought will definitely pass!”

After the old man said a few more words, the other villagers also left.

Jian Zhen watched their departing figures. Many were thin and frail, yet stepping on the parched earth, none had given up their homeland, none had given up hope of life. The human race is this kind of species, faith solidified into strength. No matter how barren the adversity, they can take root and grow.

Ye Jisheng walked over from behind.

Jian Zhen said, “Everyone is really wonderful. At last hardship is turning into relief. It’s just that we still haven’t put into practice a method to repair your divine soul.”

Ye Jisheng said lightly, “Actually, last night this Venerable already found some clues.”

Jian Zhen was surprised; his eyes brightened. “So the method I thought of is real?”

Ye Jisheng walked toward the residence and said, “Whether it’s real or not, we’ll know tomorrow.”

Jian Zhen had still been wondering, how could it be tomorrow already?

But in the evening, while he was still cooling off in the courtyard, a dull rumble of thunder sounded in the sky. One peal after another rolled in from the distant horizon.

And what it brought—

was the sound of hope.

Jian Zhen’s eyes lit up.

Ye Jisheng stood beneath the corridor watching all this and curled his lips into a faint smile.

Jian Zhen said, “It’s going to rain.”

Ye Jisheng nodded lightly and said to Jian Zhen, “The wind’s picking up. Go back inside.”

But Jian Zhen seemed to hear the cheers of villagers not far from the residence. This rain was hope for the entire town. He looked at Ye Jisheng, his brows and eyes curved in a smile as he said, “The immortal has truly manifested.”

Ye Jisheng said, “This Lord is a Demon God and does not concern himself with wind and rain. It was merely the Earth God here casting a spell.”

After he finished speaking, another bolt of lightning streaked across. Jian Zhen seemed to see, in a courtyard not far away, a faint, wavering little figure of the Earth God, kneeling and kowtowing several times in Ye Jisheng’s direction before disappearing.

The steward and the servants in the residence were happily collecting rainwater everywhere. “It’s raining, it’s raining…”

Such a night passed accompanied by joy and the sound of thunder and rain.

Jian Zhen awoke in Ye Jisheng’s arms. Opening his eyes and seeing Ye Jisheng’s, his eyelashes trembled as he said, “I feel like your complexion looks much better.”

In the past few days, Ye Jisheng’s face had always been very pale.

Ye Jisheng responded lightly, “My divine soul has recovered a little.”

“So fast!” Jian Zhen sat up and said, “Could it be that the villagers in town did something?”

This question was soon answered.

After the rain cleared and the sky brightened, not long after Jian Zhen and Ye Jisheng went out, they encountered the old man and others. The old man was especially excited when he saw them. “Young master, you are simply the great benefactors of our town!”

Jian Zhen was stunned. “Ah?”

The old man said enthusiastically, “If not for what you and your husband said, we would probably still have been extorted for money by the Daoist. Now we are determined to repair the water channels and have welcomed heavy rain, this is Heaven’s will, this is an auspicious sign! You are the great heroes of our Muyu Town. Early this morning the town chief said he wants to build a temple for your husband in the square south of the city!”

Jian Zhen was somewhat dumbfounded, not expecting things to go so smoothly. “Th-this might be a bit…”

Before the old man could speak, a somewhat delicate-looking youth standing behind him said, “Building a temple for your lord is only proper. A few days ago, if your lord hadn’t smashed the altar, my father would have killed the last big yellow ox in our family to send as an offering. That was the old ox my mother left behind. Thanks to your lord, the ox was saved.”

The old man awkwardly patted the youth’s head. “You little brat, saying everything out loud.”

But the youth only smiled and walked up to Jian Zhen. “Your lord is truly an extraordinary great man. I’ve never seen such a fine man in our town. I like him very much. But I can tell he is your husband, his eyes only hold you. Still, you’d better be careful. At this rate, there won’t be a few people who like your husband. If you don’t keep a close watch, he won’t belong to you alone.”

Jian Zhen was puzzled. “What?”

Just as he was speaking, Ye Jisheng walked over from behind.

Jian Zhen saw many people gathered around the Demon God. Perhaps to express their gratitude, many stuffed things into his arms: food, and some tender little sachets and scented pouches. Although the Demon God’s face was cold, he inevitably got brushed against during the exchanges, picking up traces of contact.

Looking at the embrace that had originally belonged only to him now filled with other people’s things, the little grass fell into deep thought. The little grass inexplicably felt a little sour.

So when the Demon God walked up to him and saw Jian Zhen spacing out, he asked, “What are you daydreaming about?”

Jian Zhen lifted his eyes. “I think I understand.”

Ye Jisheng frowned. “Understand what?”

In a soft voice, Jian Zhen said, “I understand why you were angry that night.”

The night the steward proposed taking concubines for the Demon God, he hadn’t understood why Ye Jisheng was angry, nor why he grew angry because of his words. At that time, he hadn’t reacted in time.

Ye Jisheng raised a brow at the absent-minded little grass. “What?”

Jian Zhen’s fair little face was full of seriousness. “Before, I couldn’t guess why you were angry. But now I know.”

Ye Jisheng hadn’t expected him to guess correctly and said indifferently, “Oh? How do you know?”

“Because now I’m also a little bit angry.” Jian Zhen’s dark eyes clearly reflected his figure. He opened his arms. “But I probably shouldn’t call it anger. Hug me now, and I’ll be fine.”