The vow of being like two birds flying wing to wing and branches intertwined on that day
The sky was already fully bright, the sun high in the sky, and Zhu Xun was awakened by the sweltering heat. The summer flowers in the courtyard were already preparing to wither, using their last bit of sweet fragrance to bloom.
Zhu Xun turned over and curled up in the sheets that still smelled of oranges.
........
"Uncle!" Zhu Xun sat up in surprise.
Zhu Xun practically leaped out of bed, searching for that hard-won figure without even putting on her shoes. She had just thought it was just an ordinary day, as ordinary and commonplace as every day for the past ten years.
Upon reaching the living room and smelling the aroma of food, he softened and gently approached.
You Youju was serving the food, with the chopsticks she had just used to test the saltiness still in her mouth.
As he had done for many days before, he turned around and saw Zhu Xun, asking casually, "Awake? Time to eat."
As he had done for many days before, Takehiro went into the kitchen to serve rice.
Ordinary, mundane.
Now that you're back, how can you bear to let go?
"Why didn't my uncle wake me up?" Zhu Xun ate the meat slices with orange peel in her bowl.
You Youju picked up a few more pieces of vegetables and said, "It's rare to get a good night's sleep, so sleeping a little longer is good for your mental well-being."
Zhu Xun ate all the vegetable leaves, while You Youju continued to nibble away whenever she could.
Zhu Xun was delighted, but pleaded, "Uncle is eating too, and my bowl is piled high with food."
Oh, speaking of Xiaoshan, Zhu Xun had quite an appetite back then.
You Youju ate a couple of bites of rice and felt that something was missing from the house.
"It's been so long, where is Yao Guang? Where did you put it?"
Zhu Xun served herself another bowl of rice: "I thought Uncle had forgotten about that kid. When we get back, I'll ask him to come see you."
Yao Guang is gentle, obedient, cute, and lively. Zhu Xun must have let him roam free.
You Youju was quite impatient; just what kind of ferocious beast had Yao Guang become?
I didn't pay much attention to the environment when I first came to the Demon Palace; I only remember it being dark and eerie.
The weather was clear today. As I flew on my sword, I realized that the Demon Realm was not very big. The Demon Palace was magnificent and its golden roofs were so bright that they were blinding.
Zhao Hua seemed to have been waiting outside the Aoshuang Palace for a long time. Upon seeing Zhu Xun, he rushed up to her and said, "Your Excellency, Elder."
Zhu Xun didn't give her a direct look, intending to walk right past her. You Youju pulled Zhu Xun back, signaling Zhao Hua to speak directly.
"Your Majesty! The people in the dungeon have escaped!"
Zhu Xun frowned: "This dungeon is really lively. Anyone can come and go as they please. Are they all here for sightseeing?"
Zhao Hua said, "I reported to His Majesty that day, but His Majesty told me to get out of here."
Youju blinked.
Zhu Xun raised an eyebrow: "Can't you just say what's important?"
Zhao Hua was sweating profusely and really didn't want to serve him anymore.
You Youju interrupted in time: "Can we send more people?"
Zhao Hua said, "We have already sent a pursuit team, but the opponent's strength seems to be quite extraordinary."
It's just that we can't catch up with them and there are no clues.
"So powerful, what kind of demon is he imprisoned?" You Youju couldn't help but worry.
"yes...."
“It’s the former regent, but he’s lost both his legs, so he probably can’t hide anywhere,” Zhu Xun interrupted with a smile.
He instructed Zhaohua: "Let Yaoguang Immortal Lord go find him. You useless people should resign if you can't perform your duties."
Zhao Hua felt a chill run down her spine and immediately withdrew.
This isn't something to talk about fighting or killing, but for Zhu Xun, probably because he is a demon, he is afraid from the bottom of his heart.
"Immortal Lord Yaoguang?"
Zhu Xun nodded in agreement.
Speak of the devil, and he appears. A burly man approached from a distance, his expression stern and his eyes resolute. He wore a white, fitted outfit that clung to his body, the cuffs gleaming with purple light that shone coldly in the sunlight. The black strips of cloth binding his legs were neatly trimmed. His entire being exuded an imposing and powerful aura.
Upon receiving You Youju's gaze, the man beamed and ran towards him.
You Youju initially thought the man had short hair, but upon closer inspection, she discovered he had medium-short hair, only that it was tied up and hung down at the back of his head like a straight little pillar.
"Yoju! It's you!? You really didn't die! Yoju!"
You Youju felt a chill run down her spine. Who knows how bizarre and disgusting it was to be scrutinized and turned around by a two-meter-tall man who was speaking in a coquettish tone?
He cast a pleading, yet bewildered look at Zhu Xun.
Zhu Xun had a half-smile on his face, seemingly not intending to help.
Okay, I know the demon realm is full of monsters and spirits, but these are small animals that have only recently taken shape!
Seeing You Youju's embarrassed expression, as if she didn't recognize him, Yao Guang roared and transformed back into his original form, the majestic white-haired lion.
"My God! It's Yao Guang? You've cultivated so fast!"
Yao Guang tugged and rubbed against You Youju, looking incredibly adorable. You Youju hugged the lion's head and rubbed it for a while, savoring that familiar touch!
Zhu Xun explained, "I helped him improve his cultivation level, which made things a little easier. Yao Guang has been a great help to me during this time."
Glancing at the clothes torn on the ground from reverting to their original form, Youju's eyelids twitched. Then, seeing his whip-like tail sweeping back and forth, he almost immediately stood up.
Seeing him stand up, Yao Guang circled around him twice, puzzled.
Zhu Xun pulled him away and asked, "Didn't I tell you to go after someone? Why did you come here?"
Yao Guang seemed to only then remember something, and suddenly transformed back into a two-meter-tall man with his face blurred out.
"Give me my clothes too!!" You Youju shouted helplessly as Zhu Xun covered her eyes.
Yao Guang scratched her head: "Haha, it's been so long, I almost forgot."
Yao Guang's expression quickly returned to seriousness, and she gave Zhu Xun a meaningful look. Zhu Xun understood and lowered his hand, saying to You Youju, "Uncle, I have something to do and need to go. Would you like to wander around?"
You Youju understood: "No problem, you can go without worry."
Zhu Xun took off a tag from his waist, hung it on You Youju's waist, and then left with Yao Guang.
This was You Youju's first proper "tour" of the entire Demon Palace. Because she was wearing a waist tag, she was not restricted in where she went.
Each demon palace was incredibly tall, giving the illusion of floating in mid-air. He descended three thousand steps on his sword, secretly vowing that he would never set foot in this demon realm without magical power.
The Demon Palace is majestic, fantastical, and eerie. Its eeriness lies in the incongruous sense of sacredness it exudes; the entire palace is designed like a pilgrimage site.
Looking down, the entire demon palace was surrounded by high walls, and within those walls lay a dense, dark mass, with endless lamps burning on the walls. Beneath these lamps walked rows of palace servants wearing demon masks.
At this moment, dark clouds swirled overhead, and several black birds, draped in streaks of gold, flew around the main hall, as if foreshadowing something bad about to happen.
You Youju got goosebumps and chose to return to the palace, giving herself the illusion that she was still in the human world.
"Elder! Elder Guichen!"
Youyouju turned around, and sure enough, it was Zhaohua, bouncing around.
"Zhaohua, what brings you here?"
Zhao Hua said, "His Majesty asked me to show the elder around! The Demon Palace is very large, elder, please don't get lost."
You Youju felt like a lonely old woman visiting a child, a faint sense of vicissitude welling up within her...
Zhaohua chattered away the whole way, able to name the species of every tree and every blade of grass.
No wonder she's Zhu Xun's right-hand woman; this girl has a bright future ahead of her.
Unbeknownst to them, Zhao Hua led You Youju to a side hall. You Youju looked up at the hall's name:
Biyi Hall.
"Wings in pairs?" Zhao Hua unusually offered no explanation.
"This is?"
When Zhao Hua saw You Youju asking, her expression became slightly unnatural: "Oh, Elder. This is His Majesty's usual sleeping quarters."
"Normally? Doesn't he usually sleep in the Frost Palace?"
"No, it's probably because the Frost Pride Palace is the main hall, so it's larger? After all, the elder and the Venerable One are two different people..."
You Youju was a little embarrassed and dodged the question: "Haha, really? I was just planning to sleep somewhere else tonight."
Zhao Hua immediately said, "Really? Then the elder can take a look around here."
You Youju pondered for a moment: "No, I'd better not. If this is where Zhu Xun stays, it wouldn't be appropriate for me to go in."
Zhao Hua hurriedly said, "How could it be bad? His Majesty gave you this waist token, which means you can enter anywhere. His Majesty wouldn't mind if it's just a bedroom, would he?"
You Youju glanced at the wooden plaque at his waist. He knew it was a bit immoral, but he was genuinely curious. This Biyi Palace seemed to possess a kind of magic.
He nodded: "Okay, I'll tell him when he's done with his work."
Zhao Hua said, "It's not appropriate for Zhao Hua to go in. I'll wait for the elder outside."
Just as You Youju was about to push him away, Zhao Hua asked from behind, "Elder Gui Chen, may I ask you something?"
You Youju thought she wanted to ask about Si Chuitang: "If you want to ask Elder Si, don't worry, Elder Si is fine and hasn't blamed you."
Zhao Hua was stunned for a moment. She wanted to ask why Si Chuitang didn't blame her, but instead said, "Elder, why didn't you punish Zhao Hua when you came to the Demon Realm?"
Seeing that the young girl was bothered by this, You Youju comforted her, saying, "The fact that you were able to come in proves that our security is not good enough. Besides, you didn't take anything or cause any harm; on the contrary, you served as a warning to us. Secondly, you and Chaolan are good friends, and you are also Zhu Xun's capable subordinates. Zhu Xun would not actively harm the immortal sects and provoke a war, and I believe you wouldn't want that either. Since you are not a bad person at heart, why not give you a chance?"
A gust of wind blew through the half-open door, bringing with it the fragrance of flowers. Zhao Hua watched the figure in indigo blue enter the room, unable to look away for a long time.
Its cold beauty surpasses even the snow, its lingering fragrance suddenly permeates my clothes.
Tiny white flowers, like scattered stars, stretch freely along the branches, nestled in a black porcelain vase. The window is open, and their fragrance falls like snowflakes onto the ground.
He approached and carefully admired the beautiful flower branch. Every cut and angle was so perfect, showing that Zhu Xun had done a lot of work.
You Youju regained his senses and relaxed. He went around behind the screen and moved into the room.
In the center of the main hall stood a jade pillar, as thick as three people could encircle, concealed by layers of gauze curtains printed with green bamboo. Beneath each of the four jade pillars was a prayer cushion.
Does Zhu Xun still have faith?
You Youju was curious, and as soon as she got close, the gauze curtain seemed to sense it and automatically unfolded.
He was genuinely startled. That white jade pillar wasn't some deity or Buddha; sitting in the shrine was You Youju, a being with emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, and everything in between!
A strong wind was blowing, and a torrential downpour was pouring down outside.
You Youju looked around with a hint of fear. Besides the flowers, there were paintings filled with his portrait and figure. Several of them depicted him and Zhu Xun sitting under an osmanthus tree, standing under fireworks, and walking in a maple forest. Each of them had one thing in common: Zhu Xun's gaze was always on You Youju.
You Youju had an irregular heartbeat and a disordered mind; she only felt a sudden dizziness.
Even the most foolish person wouldn't be that stupid.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
