Volume Two: The Ephemeral Life of Kunlun Chapter Sixty-Five

Tianyu nodded gently. “The Divine Lord should win, I suppose.”

“Of course. Our Divine Lord is formidable.”

Resting her head in her hand, Tianyu recalled the young man in dark robes from the previous night.

“Something's wrong! The Divine Lord is injured.”

“Injured? Surely the God of Medicine will tend to it.”

“That’s true.”

Tianyu picked up her bamboo basket. Today, she intended to gather some herbs. Though her body was free of serious ailments, the chill wind from last night had left her with a mild cold. Fortunately, the skies had cleared.

Here, the mountains soared to the heavens, teeming with diverse plants and rich spiritual energy. With the help of the little spirits, she picked many useful herbs.

“There is the scent of a mortal.”

Not far away, a demon was salivating at Tianyu’s presence. She remained oblivious as the demon transformed into black smoke and swept up the slender girl. Panic-stricken, she looked up to see a hideous monster and screamed aloud.

Her cries echoed through the valley, startling countless birds and beasts.

“Help! Help!”

The demon let out a chilling laugh. “Call out all you like; there’s no one here but you and me. I haven’t eaten for days—I’m starving.”

The demon opened its cavernous jaws, ready to bite. Terrified, Tianyu shut her eyes tight.

At that moment, another black mist appeared, laced with golden celestial dust and an eerie beauty.

Shixin wrapped his arm around the girl’s slender waist, his cold gaze fixed on the monster before him, eyes flashing with warning and an overwhelming aura that sent chills through the air.

“Leave.”

With just one word, the monster, seeing his face, recoiled in terror and fled.

Slowly, Tianyu opened her eyes and found herself staring into Shixin’s. Within his brown pupils, there were no stars—only a clear hue tinged with sorrow.

Yet Shixin’s brows curved in a smile, and he laughed. “Have you stared enough?”

Embarrassed, Tianyu quickly stepped out of his embrace. “It’s you?”

Shixin nodded. “Surprised to see me?”

The girl looked at the youthful face adorned with a smile. “I just didn’t expect you’d still be here.”

“So, seeing me—are you happy or...?”

“Of course I’m happy.” Being rescued in the wild by someone familiar—who wouldn’t be delighted?

She saw the astonishment in Shixin’s eyes melt into joy, and she smiled.

“Thank you for saving me.”

Shixin played with a leaf in his hand. “Only words?”

She glanced at the scattered herbs. “Then, how would you like me to thank you?”

Shixin pondered, crouching before Tianyu. “I haven’t decided yet. When I do, I’ll let you know. Is that alright?”

She nodded. “Fine, tell me then. But it must be something a mortal can do.”

Shixin nodded with a smile, picking up her bamboo basket effortlessly. He grinned, “I’ve got it. Today, you’ll spend the day with me. As for the other two wishes... we’ll discuss them later.”

“How did it become three wishes?”

“Think about it—a life-saving grace surpasses seven towers. Three wishes aren’t too much, are they?”

Tianyu wanted to speak, but Shixin gave her no chance, taking her basket and walking ahead.

He led her deep into the peach blossom grove. The pink flowers bloomed in profusion, filling the air with their sweet fragrance. Petals rained down, landing on her shoulders and nestling in her hair, making her all the more enchanting.

“How is it?” The youth, dressed in his vigorous attire, waited with an expression that was almost childlike, eager for praise.

Tianyu laughed, raising her hand to catch a falling blossom. “It’s beautiful.”

Shixin looked at the smile on her face; his own expression froze, and he withdrew his gaze from her, stunned.

She was the mortal who swept the shrine for him.

He remembered the dilapidated shrine, cobwebbed corners, and bleak, ruined courtyard. Dirt hung from his statue—left by mortals he’d vowed to protect.

The grime on him could not be washed away.

At midnight, countless wailing souls gnawed at his heart ceaselessly.

But only this girl had bowed to his idol, then carefully removed the filth, her warm little hands brushing his face clean.

Once the shrine was tidy, she’d sit before his statue and speak.

He was grateful for that rainy night.

A burning candle, a lonely shrine, his statue, and a solitary girl.

A few days later, the little emerald bird brought news—another winter had passed.

In her third year living alone, an old acquaintance arrived.

The young man in dark robes looked as handsome as ever, but his gaze was darker.

He wore half a silver mask, his profile turned to watch the fluttering pear blossoms.

When he turned to face Tianyu, a strange sensation surged within him—the memory of the girl walking against the crowd three years ago, her small figure trying to protect him, resurfaced vividly.

As the defeated one in the great battle, Shixin slowly removed his mask.

Tianyu saw that a scar now marked his once handsome face. Yet, the scar did not diminish his looks; instead, it lent maturity and gravity to his otherwise bewitching features.

“It’s been a while. Why are you here?” Her voice was clear, her gaze steady.

He felt a little awkward, wanting to put the mask back on.

She seemed to see through him, setting down her vegetable basket. “You don’t need to hide—it looks good.”

Shixin was surprised. He replied abruptly, his tone tinged with grievance, “I wasn’t trying to hide.”

A smile curled Tianyu’s lips.

“Since you’re here, come in and sit.”

He entered the courtyard—it was still the same, as clean as ever.

For reasons unknown, being with Tianyu always calmed his heart.

That’s why he sought her out after his defeat.

Tianyu poured him a cup of clear tea, then asked, “Is there something important you wanted to discuss?”

Shixin did not conceal the truth, nodding. “Come be my consort.”

The girl was neither surprised nor shocked. Instead, she silently retrieved a delicate medicine bottle from the house.

Sitting down, she carefully applied the ointment to the scar on his face.

Shixin instinctively leaned away, but she pulled him back, brows furrowed. “Don’t move.”

Her subtle fragrance was like a lotus blooming quietly in clear water—elegant and serene. The ointment felt cool and fresh on his skin.

Shixin’s breath grew unsteady.

Tianyu seemed oblivious, tending to him as she replied, “This is scar balm I made myself. I’ve used it and it works well. As for being your consort—I cannot. You should ask someone else.”

She refused without even asking further.

Did she know who he was? He was the Demon Lord who ruled the Three Realms.

After losing to Jingye, he ascended to reign over the Three Realms of the Demon Domain, master of the shadows, famed across the Six Realms. Yet this young Demon Lord, for the sake of a feeling from three years ago in the mortal world, had asked a girl he’d only met a few times to become his consort.

Such an honor was beyond compare. To be his consort meant immortality and ascension to divinity.

It was the dream of many, yet she refused.

Shixin felt puzzled—perhaps she did not understand the importance of his identity, or perhaps she simply did not know who he was.