Aside from crying a bit at birth, this was the baby’s fiercest crying yet.
Jian Zhen was a brand‑new father and had no idea how to soothe a child. He held the baby and gently rocked him, trying to coax him, but the little one only cried harder. So Jian Zhen could only look toward Ye Jisheng for help.
Receiving the plea for help, the all‑powerful Demon God fell silent for a moment, then said: “Is there a possibility… that he’s hungry.”
Jian Zhen: “…”
He looked back at the baby crying so hard he might faint.
Thinking about how the child hadn’t had a single drop of anything since birth, it was hard not to suspect this was the reason. At least for now, the possibility was very high.
Jian Zhen remembered that before he gave birth, a maid had placed a milk bottle on the bedside cabinet. At the time, he didn’t know what it was for. Now he suddenly understood.
Ye Jisheng handed the little milk bottle to Jian Zhen.
Jian Zhen placed the bottle near the baby’s mouth. The moment the little one tasted the milk, he stopped crying and began drinking earnestly. His tear tracks hadn’t even dried yet, but he drank with great effort.
Seeing this, Jian Zhen finally let out a breath of relief.
Jian Zhen said: “So he was just hungry, not that he disliked the name.”
Ye Jisheng: “…”
The Demon God chose silence.
As long as Little Grass was happy, that was enough.
After drinking for a while, the baby was full and turned his head away. Seeing this, Jian Zhen put the bottle back on the table. The baby looked sleepy, so he prepared to place him back on the bed.
But—
The moment he left Jian Zhen’s arms and touched the bed, the little cub immediately opened his mouth and began to cry again.
Jian Zhen froze.
Little Grass was helpless, completely inexperienced.
The infant’s wailing echoed through the hall. Patting him did nothing. Who would have thought that the Demon God feared by the Three Realms was a cub who cried the moment he left his father’s arms.
Jian Zhen instinctively turned to look at Ye Jisheng.
The tall Demon Lord raised an eyebrow. Neither of them had ever had a child. After thinking for a moment, he said: “Shall I cast a silence spell on him?”
Jian Zhen: “…”
That’s way too hardcore a method to stop a baby from crying!
Jian Zhen choked and asked: “Is there… a better method?”
Ye Jisheng said lightly: “Two silence spells.”
Jian Zhen glared at him angrily.
The Demon Lord finally gave up on the silence spell. His tall figure stood beside the bed, looking at the baby. He said: “Throw him to the wet nurse.”
Actually, the Demon Hall had long prepared a wet nurse. But because of the heavenly tribulation, no one could survive here. Outside was a river of blood, no one could approach the hall.
Jian Zhen looked at the baby crying so hard he was almost out of breath. Just as he hesitated—
Suddenly—
Jian Zhen remembered something. Little Grass turned around, took out a box from under his pillow, pressed the latch, and the lid opened. Inside the yellow‑jade brocade box lay a jade‑green wrist ring. He dripped a drop of his own blood onto it, then took Ye Jisheng’s hand and dripped a drop of his blood as well.
When their blood seeped into the wrist ring, the entire bracelet trembled lightly.
The dried vine branches curled together, with faint red glowing within. Jian Zhen lifted the baby’s tiny hand and put the bracelet on him. Dark red patterns spread outward, slowly enveloping the entire bracelet, finally forming a complete ring, firmly imprinting itself onto the baby’s wrist.
Jian Zhen said: “It’s on.”
The child who had just been crying seemed to feel a slight tickling sensation on his wrist. The little baby’s crying stopped, and his pitch‑black eyes looked at the person putting the bracelet on him.
Jian Zhen met his gaze. In that moment, it felt as if he sensed the miracle of life. He smiled, bent down, and placed a kiss between the child’s brows, softly saying: “Little Red, may your life be smooth and peaceful.”
The tiny baby was still too young to understand these words.
He only blinked after being kissed, feeling a little ticklish, and showed a soft, crisp, childish smile.
Jian Zhen also smiled.
The little baby was probably tired from crying. After finishing his milk and being soothed for a while, he closed his eyes and fell asleep. Jian Zhen let out a breath of relief. He turned to Ye Jisheng and said: “He’s asleep.”
Ye Jisheng nodded.
The man was covered in blood. He only glanced at Jian Zhen and the child on the bed before turning to leave.
But Jian Zhen grabbed his hand.
Ye Jisheng looked back. His red eyes clearly reflected the person beside him. The tall man’s cold face was stained with streaks of blood, unclear whether it was his own or splattered from elsewhere.
Jian Zhen took another bracelet from the box. This one was a green bracelet, but its style was more imposing than the baby’s. He dripped his own blood into it, then used a gentle healing spell to take a drop of blood from the sleeping baby, so quick and painless that it didn’t wake him.
Both drops of blood were merged into the bracelet by Jian Zhen, and the bracelet glowed red.
Jian Zhen pulled Ye Jisheng’s hand over and placed the bracelet neatly onto his wrist. He said: “Now you have one.”
Just like—
Not long ago—
When he asked Ye Jisheng about his bracelet, Ye Jisheng had said: I don’t have one.
Jian Zhen held Ye Jisheng’s hand and said softly: “I know you may not care about these things, but since everyone else has one, I want you to have one too.”
Ye Jisheng lowered his eyes and saw a green ring now on his wrist. It was a soul‑mark, a bracelet only close family, those with blood ties, could wear. It contained the baby’s blood and Jian Zhen’s blood, quietly clasped around his wrist.
Outside, wind and rain raged.
The ground was in ruins, thunder and lightning had only just ended.
Blood flowed across the earth, just like thousands of years ago, on that nameless night, when a small child lay crying on a tattered mat beside the corpses of his parents. No one soothed him to sleep. No one placed a bracelet on the newborn’s wrist. Only endless gloomy rain, unbroken clouds, and relentless cold wind, shadows that followed the child all his life.
And on a certain day, thousands of years later—
The empty wrist of that child finally received its bracelet.
Jian Zhen said: “I heard from Yan Ji that the demon clan’s bracelets can only be worn by family. Since you can wear it, that means you’re no longer someone without family. The baby and I are your family.”
As he spoke—
Jian Zhen looked at his own wrist. “It seems I’m the only one without one. But I’m not a demon clan member, so I probably can’t wear one, right?”
Ye Jisheng said: “You have one.”
Jian Zhen blinked. Little Grass was confused: “Huh? I have one?”
When did he get one? His wrist was clearly empty.
Ye Jisheng pulled his wrist over, and a red soul‑ring appeared on Jian Zhen’s wrist. He said: “I already put one on you long ago.”
Jian Zhen said: “But this one isn’t woven from vine branches.”
“Mm.” Ye Jisheng said: “This one is forged from my soul‑mark. Non‑demon clan members can wear it. As long as you have it on, no matter what danger you encounter, I will sense it.”
Jian Zhen hadn’t expected such an advanced function. He said: “Then what about your bracelet, the one I made for you? Does it have this effect too? Will I be able to sense you?”
Ye Jisheng’s red eyes fell on Jian Zhen, and he said meaningfully: “Perhaps it will.”
Jian Zhen froze. “Huh?”
What did perhaps mean?
Either it has the effect or it doesn’t, don’t bully a little grass by being vague!
The next day.
After the storm that night subsided, the entire demon hall had been washed in blood. Jian Zhen, who had just given birth, slept for two full days. During that time, the demon clan’s wet nurses took care of the baby. Ye Jisheng barely appeared, he had lost a great deal of vital energy that night and had been in seclusion recovering.
Once Jian Zhen felt better, he went to see the child.
The wet nurses looked at Jian Zhen as if seeing a living bodhisattva, relief flooding their faces.
Jian Zhen asked: “What’s wrong?”
Yan Ji, who had been assigned as protector of the little prince, explained: “Because the little prince is extremely energetic and very difficult to handle. No matter how the wet nurses try, they can’t soothe him.”
Jian Zhen was surprised. “But he’s very well‑behaved.”
Everyone stared at the baby in Jian Zhen’s arms who, in just two days, already looked more lively. His round black eyes were bright, and in Jian Zhen’s arms he was unbelievably obedient. When Jian Zhen poked his cheek, he even smiled.
Jian Zhen’s heart melted. He sighed: “So cute!”
Yan Ji and the others fell into a strange silence.
Finally—
Under the urging gazes of the wet nurses, Yan Ji leaned close and whispered cautiously: “How about… you put the little prince down for a moment, then sneak away and come back to look?”
Jian Zhen blinked. “Is that necessary?”
Yan Ji nodded seriously.
So Jian Zhen, half‑skeptical, coaxed the baby to sleep and put him down, then quietly left the hall.
But before he even walked far, he sneaked back—
And the entire hall erupted with an astonishing burst of baby wailing. The wet nurses panicked as they tried to soothe him, but the baby ignored them completely. Worse, while lying on the bed, his tiny fists slammed onto the bedside, so hard that he cracked the entire bed frame.
Jian Zhen widened his eyes in astonishment.
This…
How did the little one have endless brute strength?
Yan Ji whispered beside his ear: “Because the little prince is a naturally born divine body. Even without cultivation, his strength is unlike ordinary people. Right now His Highness is still small and cannot consciously control his power. Yesterday, two wet nurses were already sent to the medical hall.”
Jian Zhen: “…”
Little Grass was dumbfounded.
While he had been sleeping like the dead, what exactly had the wet nurses endured?
Seeing the swaddled little baby crying nonstop inside, Jian Zhen took a big step into the hall. As his presence approached, before he even reached the bed, the baby’s crying weakened.
The wet nurses looked at him as if seeing a savior.
Jian Zhen reached out: “Give him to me.”
The little one still had tears on his face. When he saw Jian Zhen, he let out a few soft whimpers, hiccupped from crying, and then stopped.
Jian Zhen wiped his tears with his fingertips and said softly: “Little Red, don’t cry. It’s Daddy’s fault. Daddy was busy sleeping and didn’t keep you company.”
The baby couldn’t understand his words, but the gentle touch of Jian Zhen’s fingers brushing his cheek was like a feather soothing the heart. He could sense the pleasant grassy scent on Jian Zhen, always there beside him. It made him feel safe. The little demon god who had been raising havoc quieted down and fell asleep again under Jian Zhen’s soft coaxing.
Yan Ji said from behind: “These past few days, the little prince always cries after waking. We didn’t dare disturb your rest, so we could only let the wet nurses take turns soothing him.”
Jian Zhen said: “You’ve worked hard. I’ll take him back to the bedchamber and keep him by my side.”
Yan Ji quickly said: “How could that be?”
Jian Zhen asked in confusion: “Why not?”
Yan Ji hurried to explain, afraid he’d misunderstand: “Taking care of a child is exhausting. Since ancient times, when has a lord ever personally raised a child?”
“He’s very good, not troublesome.” Jian Zhen said. “It’s fine. Arrange for some people to stay in the room next door. When I’m tired, you can come help soothe him. As long as I’m here, he won’t be difficult.”
Yan Ji said: “Then the Demon Lord…”
Jian Zhen said without hesitation: “He’ll agree.”
Even though this was a cultivation world, Jian Zhen still felt that raising a child was something both parents should do. It wasn’t only his responsibility, Ye Jisheng had responsibility too. Only together could they raise the child well.
And so—
Five days later, when the Demon God emerged from seclusion—
The once‑majestic Demon God Hall had become unrecognizable. The tables were covered with baby supplies, soft carpets, and little toys. The air carried a faint scent of milk, and from time to time came the tender laughter of a child.
The guards and wet nurses outside knelt to greet him.
Ye Jisheng stepped inside and saw Jian Zhen sitting on the edge of the bed, playing with a little flying‑bird toy for the child.
Jian Zhen used a spell to make the wooden bird fly. The baby lying on the bed got excited, waved his arm and the wooden bird turned to ashes, crushed by magic.
Ye Jisheng stood not far away and saw Little Grass cast him a resentful look.
Jian Zhen said: “Little Red goes through toys pretty fast.”
Ye Jisheng curled his lips in a smile.
Jian Zhen asked: “Were you like this when you were little?”
Ye Jisheng said: “I didn’t have toys when I was little.”
As soon as he finished—
The baby on the bed, upset that the flying bird was gone, began to whimper. The fluctuation of divine power made the milk bottle on the cabinet tremble, about to be crushed again.
Ye Jisheng waved his hand lightly and dispersed the power.
The little baby lay on the bed. Ye Jisheng walked over slowly. His tall figure bent slightly, and his long finger tapped the child’s brow. In an instant, the bed curtains lifted without wind, then slowly fell.
Jian Zhen asked: “What did you do?”
Ye Jisheng withdrew his hand: “Temporarily sealed his power. When he can control it, it will naturally unseal.”
Jian Zhen said: “The wet nurses will definitely be happy to hear that.”
Ye Jisheng glanced sideways at him: “You’re not happy?”
Jian Zhen stretched lazily: “I’m fine. Even though he can’t control his power, he’s a child with restraint. He’s never hurt me.”
Ye Jisheng let out a slow, cold laugh: “He wouldn’t dare.”
Jian Zhen: “…”
This big boss really recognizes no kin.
Jian Zhen shifted his attention to Ye Jisheng: “How is your injury?”
Ye Jisheng’s complexion looked better than before. He nodded lightly: “It’s nothing.”
Jian Zhen said: “Are you really fine?”
He still remembered how much blood he lost that day.
Ye Jisheng sat on the nearby chair. His dark robe fell onto the soft cushion. His cold, handsome aura seemed out of place yet strangely harmonious. His red eyes fell on Jian Zhen, and he said with a curl of his lips: “If gods were that easy to kill, those old fossils of the Three Realms wouldn’t have to rack their brains every day.”
Jian Zhen felt that made sense. Honestly, Demon Lord, your character setting is just like a villain. As the saying goes, evil lives a thousand years.
Just as he was thinking—
Ye Jisheng said: “You’re cursing me in your heart.”
Jian Zhen was shocked. “You can read minds?”
“So it’s true.” Ye Jisheng narrowed his eyes. He smiled ambiguously. “What were you cursing me about?”
Jian Zhen said: “I hope you live a little longer.”
Ye Jisheng’s smile faded slightly.
Jian Zhen turned back to tease the child and said: “I drew some designs earlier today. See if you can find craftsmen to make them?”
Ye Jisheng saw the drawings on the cabinet, picked them up, and asked: “What is this?”
“A baby bed.” Jian Zhen came over and pointed at the cradle on the drawing. “This goes beside our bed so he can sleep easily. This is a little stroller. When I take him out to play, sometimes he falls asleep, and my arms get sore from holding him. And this…”
Ye Jisheng listened for a while, then frowned: “Why are you the one taking care of him? Where are the wet nurses?”
Jian Zhen said: “The wet nurses will help, but we still need to take care of him ourselves. He cries whenever he’s away from people.”
Ye Jisheng set the drawings down and let out a cold laugh: “He is someone who will inherit the position of Demon Lord. If he clings to people like this, how can he ever amount to anything?”
Jian Zhen said softly: “Why does he need to amount to anything right now? He’s still small. He’s just a baby. He doesn’t understand the Three Realms, nor the position of Demon Lord. I know what you’re saying, and I know you mean well. Since he’s destined to shoulder these responsibilities when he grows up, I can’t change that. I also know I’m just a little grass, I can’t help him with any of that.”
The room was very quiet.
Jian Zhen sat beside Ye Jisheng. Candlelight fell across his gentle profile. He said softly: “But right now he’s still small. Making sure he grows up safe and happy, that’s something I can do.”
The hall was silent. Outside, the night was deep, and wind blew through.
Jian Zhen turned his head to look at the person beside him and smiled slightly: “I know… that’s what you want too, isn’t it?”
Ye Jisheng was silent for a moment, then said lazily: “I’m not so idle as to restrict a child’s interests.”
Jian Zhen smiled even more brightly. He shook Ye Jisheng’s arm and said: “Then tomorrow let’s go order the baby’s rocking cradle!”
Ye Jisheng said: “He doesn’t want to sleep in the current bed?”
Jian Zhen thought for a moment: “Well, it works… but if he sleeps on the other side, there won’t be enough room on the bed. There won’t be space for you. Are you sure you don’t want to get him a rocking cradle?”
Ye Jisheng: “…”
Silence fell for a moment.
Under the candlelight, Jian Zhen blinked at him, smiling sweetly.
