Chapter 101: Crimson Flowers Hidden in White Bones (1)
The next day, a light rain suddenly fell over Penglai Island. The weather was damp and refreshing—perfect for sleeping. Half-awake and half-dreaming, Bai Chunsheng felt someone scratching his back. In protest, he kicked his hind legs. Before he realized what was happening, someone grabbed one of his paws.
Held by the paw, Bai Chunsheng was flipped over onto his back. With his feet in the air, he flapped his wings in effort, trying to turn himself back over, but failed. Drowsily, he opened his eyes and saw Bo Yan holding his paw and playing with it.
Bai Chunsheng: “…” What terrible karma.
He shifted back into human form, curling up on the bed, lying on his side. His ink-black hair spilled loosely over his white inner robe. One of his feet was still in Bo Yan’s grasp. Seeing him transform, Bo Yan amusedly toyed with the silver ring around Bai Chunsheng’s ankle. “This silver ring is missing a pretty little bell.”
“You’re sick,” Bai Chunsheng snapped in anger. “Stop touching me.”
He quickly pulled his foot free from Bo Yan’s hand, lifted the blanket, and burrowed back underneath, intending to enjoy a little more sleep in such fine weather.
In theory, he could sleep for several days straight. Unfortunately, this pleasant rest had been interrupted by Bo Yan.
Strange—since they were both demons, why wasn’t Bo Yan sleepy?
Bo Yan asked, “Why is it that every time I see you fast asleep, you’ve turned back into this form?”
Bai Chunsheng could not be bothered to respond.
Bo Yan continued speaking to himself, “Get up. We’re returning to the Ten Thousand Demon Sect.”
Bai Chunsheng had only just woken and was still somewhat dazed. “I thought the birthday celebration was supposed to last several days and nights. Why are we leaving already?”
Bo Yan replied, “Last night, Xuanling Zhenren of Penglai Island suddenly sensed something amiss. He is skilled in spiritual divination and calculated that Miaoyan Zhenren was in danger. He broke into the Peach Blossom Cold Pool and found that Miaoyan Zhenren had suffered qi deviation. In front of him sat a jar of ‘Unwilling to Forget,’ already half drunk. The situation was so critical that there was no saving him—now it is left to fate.”
“If we wait a few more days, we’ll likely hear news of Immortal Miaoyan’s death.”
“This joyful occasion may well turn into a funeral. If we guests who came for the birthday banquet stay on for several more days and nights, we’ll end up attending his funeral feast instead. It would be inauspicious to remain. It’s better to leave early. I would rather return for his funeral than stay until after he’s buried before departing.”
“That makes sense.” Bai Chunsheng had been thoroughly disturbed by Bo Yan early in the morning. No matter how fond of sleep he was, he was now mostly awake and no longer felt drowsy. Then he realized something. “Didn’t you see Immortal Miaoyan last night? How did he suddenly suffer qi deviation?”
Bo Yan pressed his lips together, looking displeased. “How should I know? Yesterday, when I mentioned wanting to marry you, he looked as though he’d been struck by a blow, as if the sky were collapsing. It wasn’t even his business. If he wanted to serve as witness, fine; if not, forget it. I wasn’t going to force him.”
Bo Yan sighed. “Old people are like that, I suppose. They hear something out of the ordinary and find it impossible to accept. I hope you and I won’t be like that when we’re old.”
“Immortal Miaoyan even suggested I seek out the Yan family’s ancestor, Yan Jianhang. As if I would.” Bo Yan cast Bai Chunsheng a subtle glance and defined Miaoyan’s suggestion in his mind. “He had ill intentions. Why would I go looking for someone surnamed Yan? Just hearing that surname feels unlucky.”
“…”
Bai Chunsheng’s heart pounded at the mention of marriage. Thinking further, he realized something else.
Yan Jingqiu had not yet recovered his memory.
He had assumed Yan Jingqiu had already regained all his memories before openly continuing as the Lord of the Water Abyss Realm. He had not expected that this man was still suffering from amnesia.
Bai Chunsheng cautiously asked, “What do you think of Yan Jingqiu?”
Bo Yan turned to look at him. His gaze was deep and hollow, as though utterly heartbroken. “You’re asking when you already know the answer. Why bother?”
He said fiercely, “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking. If you don’t want to hear me curse him, you’d better not mention him in front of me.”
Bai Chunsheng: “…”
He thought rapidly for a moment, startled and suspicious, yet also faintly delighted. “Really?”
He probed further, “Then say a few lines for me to hear first?”
Ciacia/N: the atmosphere betweent the two changed drastically, and the novel is coming to an end but i felt like the plot progress was slow until up to a few recent chapters where the author just sped up the romance plot and the two MCs just become harmonious together. Bo Yan wasn’t even suspicious of Bai Chunsheng’s changed behavior. And from author’s notes, they’re rushing up to finish the dealine and word counts so basically we will be fed with speedy plot progress from now until the end. (Not sure if it’s just me or…)
Huge shoutout to @_nyanmaru_ on Discord for commissioning this! The chapter will be posted regularly, show your support for Ciacia at Kofi.
