44 and coming of age

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone at the table fell silent, while Chi Yuanhan, standing to the side, remained calm and vigilant, observing his surroundings.

Just now, Zhao Jing'an had sent him a secret message, instructing him to use his identity to investigate Master Zhao's study.

"A few days ago, I happened to meet a celestial being in the mortal world, named Mr. Cheng Shi. Mr. Cheng's Taoist skills are extremely high. It is no exaggeration to say that he can turn his hand to make clouds and rain."

As Zhao Wen spoke, his eyes were still filled with excitement. His face was flushed, and he continued to speak eloquently: "Mr. Cheng is still resting at the moment. In a little while, I will invite him to come and perform a ritual to pray for everyone present and their families. Firstly, to thank everyone for their care, and secondly, to borrow Mr. Cheng's divine power to protect your families so that your careers may be smooth and your families may be happy."

Upon hearing this, everyone applauded and cheered. Hua Jingyuan tugged at Chi Yuanhan's sleeve and whispered in his ear, "Since there are immortals offering blessings, you should be careful not to be impolite."

"I understand, Mother."

Chi Yuanhan nodded in agreement, but his gaze involuntarily drifted towards the back of the hospital, thinking to himself, "I wonder how Zhao Jing'an is doing now. But this Mr. Cheng has already generated a lot of buzz even without arriving, completely bewitching Zhao Wen..."

Under the current emperor, the world is peaceful and prosperous, and various cultures are flourishing. There has never been an explicit prohibition of certain so-called Taoist doctrines, so Zhao Wen's actions are not unreasonable.

Chi Yuanhan felt a growing unease, but he had no choice but to sit down with the others.

Before long, servants from the Zhao family brought in an altar covered with a bright yellow cloth, with intricate patterns embroidered on it, making it both mysterious and eerie.

And at each of the four corners of the cloth, a candle is placed, waiting to be lit.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew by, causing the leaves and shadows of the surrounding trees to sway. Dusk was fading, and the darkness of night was gradually beginning to engulf the sky.

On the path to the side of the main hall, a slender figure walked gracefully. The person's hair was half white, his robes were spotless, and his eyes were sharp and bright, completely different from his white hair, making him look like a young cultivator.

However, the lower half of his face was covered by a strange mask, and he walked straight to the edge of the altar and stopped.

He was a cultivator whose strength far surpassed his own.

Chi Yuanhan felt a few moments of clarity in his mind, but he couldn't make any move.

This Immortal Cheng did not utter a single word throughout the journey. Even when Zhao Wen spoke with him, his greatest reaction was merely to nod or nod.

For a moment, everyone at the table fell silent, afraid of disturbing the immortals' ritual and prayers. The candles in the four corners were lit, and unlike the usual warm yellow light, the wicks glowed with an eerie bluish-green. The sky had already turned completely dark, and the eerie green light filled everyone's hearts with an indescribable sense of dread.

"Is this a prayer for blessings?"

Hua Jingyuan whispered to Chi Hongtian, but the hall was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. As soon as she spoke, Immortal Cheng turned his gaze to the three of them.

However, he immediately resumed the ritual, as if everything that had just happened was an illusion.

He lit the candles, then took out many talismans and lit them one by one clockwise, throwing them into the jar while muttering a jumble of ancient incantations, his voice hazy and indistinct, sometimes near, sometimes far.

No, this is not a blessing ceremony at all!

Although Chi Yuanhan was playful by nature, he was intelligent after all. After studying at Qingshan Peak for only a short time, he was able to memorize some formations.

The book records that if one wants blessings to continue endlessly, the corresponding array talisman paper should either emit purple light or have a comfortable natural aura; it is impossible for such a strange situation to occur.

However, this person's strength is now far superior to his own, and he can only hope that Zhao Jing'an will have more clues.

He stared intently at the person in the middle of the hall, trying to memorize every movement.

Leaves rustled as they fell, and the Demon Realm remained as dark as ever, as if it would never see the light.

Chu Qing lay listlessly on the bed, feeling like she was going to go stir-crazy if this continued. She hadn't seen Yin Li for several days since he left that day.

I wonder where he's hiding away, blaming himself again.

She calmed herself down and carefully sensed the several strands of demonic energy within her body. Faint demonic energy slowly swirled around her, and soon seeped through her skin and flowed into her heart.

Not enough, far from enough. Right now, it's just a few strands of magic silk. If we want to change the bloodline, we must keep extracting and refining it, just like peeling silkworm silk with patience and meticulousness.

Was the stimulation she provided not enough?

But Chu Qing also understood that the day in prison was Yin Li's bottom line. After all, he still had the identity of her master, so he wouldn't do anything too crazy.

What should we do then...?

It seemed that Heaven could sense what Chu Qing was thinking. Just when she was at her wit's end, Yin Li suddenly returned.

Snow

Autumn has passed, and the first snow has arrived. A thin layer of crystal-clear white snow falls on the ground, leaving only a few patches.

The wind during a snowfall isn't annoying; it's gentle, lightly brushing against your cheeks, yet it can belatedly chill you to the bone.

The place should have been desolate and bleak, but Chu Qing keenly sensed that the Demon Palace was filled with peace and joy. Even the servants who were watching over her had been smiling these past few days, and their expressions toward her were strangely indescribable.

At dusk, the snow was still falling, and the warm glow of the sun could only be partially revealed due to the obscuring clouds.

Squeak

The door was pushed open, the teacup in her hand fell to the ground, and she was greeted by a traveler returning home covered in snow.

Yin Li

He seemed even thinner than before, but the light in his eyes couldn't help but shine when he saw the person inside. He smiled faintly and stepped into the bedchamber, but behind the smile was an indescribable sinister aura.

"master."

He walked in, and disregarding Chu Qing's wishes, he insisted on taking her hands and pressing them against her cold cheeks.

"Master, do you know what day it is today?"

Chu Qing did not resist Yin Li's actions, but he caught her off guard with his question. She searched her mind for a long time but could not find an answer. She could also clearly feel that his face was becoming more and more gloomy and that the force on his wrist was constantly tightening.

A thought flashed through Chu Qing's mind, and she seemed to have guessed something, but she dared not say it.

"Master."

With a light touch on her wrist, her hands fell to the ground. Yin Li held the other's shoulders, revealing an innocent look she hadn't shown in a long time. Her red lips parted slightly, and her tone was gentle: "Today is my coming-of-age day. I overheard someone mention that men who come of age must have a courtesy name. If they have a father and a mother, their parents can give them one. If they have neither a father nor a mother, their master can bestow one upon them."

"Master, please bestow upon your disciple a courtesy name."

The room was warm, and the charcoal in the brazier crackled from time to time. The bitterness in her heart overwhelmed all other feelings. Chu Qing opened her mouth, but her throat was blocked, and she didn't know what to say.

Time flies like an arrow; it's gone by so quickly.

Yin Li has reached the age of coming of age.

I'm twenty years old.

She raised her beautiful eyebrows, no longer as cold and arrogant as before, but now filled with a touch of warmth, as if nothing had ever happened, there was no bloodline, no villains, and no demon realm.

He was still the same disciple, as if the two had now reconciled. Yin Li was being the best disciple, clamoring for his favorite master to bestow a name upon him.

Her hands, which had been hanging limply at her sides, rose uncontrollably, stroking his eyebrows, eyes, nose...

His features were still somewhat immature, but the long years of training and hardship had given Yin Li an extraordinary temperament. His shoulders had become increasingly broad, enough to support an entire world on his own.

With her dry lips pressed together and a bitter taste in her throat, Chu Qing finally found her voice after a long while and managed to utter the words with difficulty: "Okay."

His face, which had been covered in frost and snow, now melted away and brought life back to life. Yin Li smiled again and quickly searched for something, rummaging through drawers and cabinets. Chu Qing just watched from the side, her mind racing.

"Found it!"

Yin Li held a wooden box in his hand, took a few steps forward, placed it on the table, and carefully opened it.

Unlike the elaborate decorations found in the mortal world, which include black cloth crowns and leather caps, this wooden box contained a jade crown that was as plain as could be.

A gentleman is like jade.

The moment Chu Qing saw it, these adjectives flashed through her mind: Yin Li was extremely handsome, with bright eyebrows and clear eyes, a jade-like appearance, upturned eyes that were both affectionate and intelligent, a high nose bridge, and a face with a perfect, exquisitely sculpted contour. His tall stature also made him appear majestic.

"If you want to hold a coming-of-age ceremony, why not invite more people?"

Yin Li shook his head and said to himself, "Having a master is enough."

Chu Qing felt a pang of pain in her eyes. She picked up the jade crown, and Yin Li obediently sat down beside her. Neither of them mentioned anything that shouldn't be mentioned at this moment, and the atmosphere was unusually peaceful and harmonious.

She stepped closer, letting down the beautiful hair of the person opposite her, and gently combed it with a wooden comb: "On this auspicious day of this month, you begin your coming-of-age ceremony. Cast aside your childish ways, and embrace your virtuous character. May you live a long and blessed life, and enjoy great fortune."

Every word was deeply etched into Yin Li's heart. He obediently knelt down and bowed his head, signaling his master to put the jade crown on him.

“Yin Li, you lost your parents at a young age, and suffered a lot when you joined Green Mountain Peak. Now that you are in the Demon Realm, you are even more helpless. Your master is ashamed of all this.”

The gesture above his head was meant to soothe, but every word was piercing and heartbreaking. Yin Li pursed her thin lips, her nails digging deep into her flesh, but she didn't say another word.

"Now, your master only wishes that you will have a smooth life, free from worries and full of joy. So I grant you—freedom from worries."

No worries.

A pang of sadness shot through the kneeling person, who closed their eyes.

Worry-free, worry-free...

He was always happy about nothing and worried about everything, which made him worthy of the title "worry-free".

"Thank you, Master."

Yin Li first raised his head, then slowly stood up, and uttered a sentence that was enough to cause a thunderclap.

“Master, the coming-of-age ceremony is now complete, and I also have some good news to tell you.”

"What?"

Chu Qing frowned, a vague sense of foreboding creeping into her heart, echoing the increasingly heavy snowfall outside.

"Master, let's become Daoist partners and get married next spring."

At that moment, the surroundings suddenly dimmed, and the youthful laughter faded rapidly. Chu Qing couldn't describe her feelings at this moment, but the jade crown still reflected the dazzling halo of the candle, and tears flowed uncontrollably.

"What did you say?"

“Master, we are about to become Daoist partners. I have already announced it to the world and am currently drafting the marriage certificate and invitations.”

The cold words fell, and seeing no response for a long time, the other party's patience finally ran out. The wind whistled past her cheeks, and a pair of pale hands fiercely lifted her chin. Chu Qing finally met those blood-red eyes.

"Why is Master not happy about such a joyous occasion?"

So that's how it is.

She finally understood why everyone in the Demon Palace was so happy, as if it were a festival; however, it wasn't that she truly didn't want to.

If the world were at peace and immortals and demons were no longer so irreconcilable, then no matter what Yin Li's identity was, she would be willing to stay by his side and teach him carefully. Marriage was fine, or living in seclusion was fine too; being with him would not be a bad thing.

But she has her mission, and Yin Li has her own path to walk. They ultimately cannot accomplish anything that lovers in this world can easily achieve.

They were originally in love and should have grown old together, sharing snow and growing old together. But why has everything now been twisted into a heartbreaking situation?

They hurt each other time and time again, stubborn, ruthless, and indifferent. The two were like two of the sharpest blades, ready to cleave each other's chests open and pierce the already wounded hearts of the moment, lifting them up and smashing them to pieces.

Chu Qing knew she couldn't change Yin Li's mind, so she could only rely on his madness to help her complete her mission.

Perhaps this marriage will help her achieve her goals.

A plan was quietly expanding, and as details were added, it gradually formed a perfect closed loop in her mind. Chu Qing was 90% confident. She trusted her judgment because every operation since she arrived here had gone very smoothly. As long as she persisted, she would definitely succeed.

"Does Master really dislike or hate his disciple so much?"

A sound carrying with it the chill of shattered stones suddenly rang in her ears. Yin Li looked at the pained expression on the other person's face, and the violence in her heart instantly escalated. Even though she had mentally rehearsed her reaction countless times when she heard it, she still couldn't help but be hurt when she actually faced it.

Master is a liar. He promised to be moved and never leave, and he has fooled him time and time again. Now, Yin Li is not satisfied. He thinks that it is not enough to just have her. He also needs to put a shackle on his master to keep him forever. He wants to use iron chains to tightly bind the bright moon in the sky and pull it into his arms.

Forever and ever...

[Author's Note]

Okay, just a heads-up: there might be mandatory weddings?

In Chu Qing's heart, it was always her own choice, haha. Only Yin Li felt wronged, thinking that he had forced his master, that he was a bad person, and that his master hated him.

Good evening! See you the day after tomorrow! [Rabbit head with upright ears]