AUOF - 121

The donkey cart was trapped in the middle of the chaos, the tension as taut as an arrow on a bowstring—ready to ignite at any moment.

“Wait—!”

The sound of hooves approached from afar, kicking up clouds of dust. Through the haze, Sang Sang recognized the young man riding with an air of unrestrained confidence.

His features were clear and bright, his presence exuding vigor and vitality. Even dressed in plain clothes, he seemed like the radiant moon in the sky. Sang Sang narrowed her eyes slightly, her expression calm, while behind the cart, Ji Hengyu silently tucked away his talisman paper.

“Who dares to block us?!” Old Master Chen, far from being intimidated, grew even more audacious as he loudly berated the group.

The tall man dismounted smoothly and displayed his badge: “I am Marquis Wu’an! How dare you act so brazenly!”

His commanding voice echoed, causing the Chen family members to exchange uneasy glances. Their expressions toward Sang Ning instantly shifted.

Marquis Wu’an was the favored son of the current dynasty, having achieved remarkable military feats. The Emperor had bestowed this title upon him out of deep favor.

Old Master Chen could never have imagined that such a prominent figure would emerge from this remote, impoverished land. His legs buckled, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud.

Sang Ning remained seated on his horse.

From his elevated position, he looked down indifferently at the crowd, seemingly unconcerned. Finally, he spoke: “His Majesty has sent us to investigate matters of corruption and bribery. We’ve heard much about how your Chen family abuses its power to bully others. Wang Lin, take this man away for thorough questioning.”

“Yes.”

Wang Lin gestured for someone to bind them all and drag them off.

Old Master Chen suddenly realized the situation was beyond salvage. Presumably, his influential uncle and cousin back in the capital had also fallen into trouble, leaving him unable to accept the reality. He struggled and wailed incessantly, utterly devoid of his earlier arrogance. Finding their cries annoying, Sang Ning ordered their mouths gagged. Once silence returned, he turned his gaze to Sang Sang and Ji Hengyu on the donkey cart.

While pitying his sister’s plight, he couldn’t help but feel deeply irritated.

Back in Tianzhechuan, she had been a queen. Now, here in the mortal realm, even a local tyrant dared to oppress her.

But pity outweighed anger. Seeing Sang Sang clutching the reins of the old donkey, gazing at him pitifully, his heart softened completely.

“What are you still sitting there for?” Sang Ning said with an edge of annoyance. “Get into the sedan chair already.”

Only then did Sang Sang notice the sedan chair Sang Ning had brought along specifically for her.

With a sweet smile directed at her brother, Sang Sang helped Ji Hengyu into the sedan chair. This action only further soured Sang Ning’s mood.

As dusk fell, they could only return to the town’s auxiliary residence to rest temporarily before setting out for Qingyang City the next day.

The auxiliary residence had been prepared by the county magistrate as a resting place. Upon arrival, the prefect was waiting respectfully at the entrance. As soon as the caravan appeared, he bowed deeply, his face plastered with an obsequious smile.

“Little Marquis, after such a long journey, please go inside and rest. Everything has been prepared.”

Sang Ning ignored him and went first to lift the curtain and invite his sister to alight.

Sang Sang disliked being treated so carefully, but she feared refusing would only upset her brother. Reluctantly, she extended her hand to him. Just as she thought to turn back and assist her husband, Sang Ning, who had anticipated her intentions, firmly pulled her forward.

Ji Hengyu didn’t mind, quietly following behind.

The atmosphere between the three was strange, leaving the county magistrate, who was unaware of the situation, feeling quite awkward.

“If Little Marquis needs anything…”

“Thank you for your efforts, Prefect. I require nothing more.”

Sang Ning was in a foul mood, clearly dismissing him.

The prefect had long known that this young marquis was arrogant and difficult to deal with. Today’s encounter confirmed the rumors. Even if he wanted to curry favor, he dared not linger and risk irritating him further.

After the prefect left, Sang Sang followed Sang Ning, observing the surroundings of the auxiliary residence.

The garden’s design was elegant and refined, evidently crafted with great effort. Sang Sang’s eyelashes fluttered gently as she nudged Sang Ning’s arm and whispered softly, so only the two of them could hear: “I thought everything you said was nonsense, but it turns out you’re really a little marquis?”

Sang Ning replied indifferently: “Just a title.”

Sang Ning had mingled among mortals out of necessity to gather intelligence.

Seven years ago, during the turmoil in Lin’an, he coincidentally encountered a soldier with the same name who had died on the battlefield. Taking advantage of this coincidence, he assumed the dead man’s identity and gradually rose to become today’s Marquis Wu’an. Originally intending to withdraw once the demon realm was stabilized, he hadn’t expected to continue using this identity until now.

The prefect had arranged a lavish feast, featuring rare delicacies that they rarely had the chance to enjoy.

Seeing her husband’s thin frame, Sang Sang anxiously plied him with food, piling his small bowl high until it resembled a mountain. Finally, he stopped her with a helpless chuckle: “I can’t eat anymore.”

Beside them, Sang Ning, who had been quietly eating, lifted his gaze slightly and remarked, “I heard from Sang Sang that you’re quite skilled at transcribing books.”

Ji Hengyu replied modestly: “It’s passable.”

Sang Ning set down his chopsticks: “I plan to bring Sang Sang to Qingyang City. At that time, I’ll introduce you to the Imperial Study Hall and recommend you for a position as a proofreader. Though the rank is low, it’s still an official title.”

An arranged marriage might attract gossip, so for Sang Sang’s sake, Sang Ning had to secure some kind of position for Ji Hengyu to avoid disgrace.

He didn’t care about Ji Hengyu’s reputation, but he didn’t want others to use it to criticize his sister.

Ji Hengyu remained silent, his lowered gaze betraying his thoughts.

Sang Sang’s eyes darted around. “Brother, my husband and I have decided to use our savings to open a pharmacy.” With that, she patted Ji Hengyu’s leg under the table in a reassuring gesture.

Noticing this, Ji Hengyu’s lips curved slightly upward. He raised his head and said: “Thank you for your kindness, Brother, but I’ve only read a few books and know nothing of navigating the political arena. If I were to make a mistake, it might implicate you.”

Ji Hengyu’s repeated use of “Brother” made Sang Ning’s vision blur momentarily.

His chest swelled with resentment. Looking at Ji Hengyu’s faint smile, he nearly ground his molars to dust. Finally, he snorted coldly: “Do as you please.”

The meal ended in an unpleasant atmosphere.

Afterward, the couple was led by maidservants to their chambers to rest. Thinking of her brother’s darkened expression, Sang Sang felt apprehensive and worried that Sang Ning’s words might affect Ji Hengyu.

“Brother only said those things because he doesn’t want me to suffer. Please don’t take it to heart.”

Once they reached Qingyang City, they’d have plenty of time to interact. Sang Sang didn’t want them to remain at odds or for her to be caught in the middle, torn between them.

Ji Hengyu smiled gently, his voice clear yet soft: “For him to say those words means he has accepted me. Why would I hold it against him?” What he feared was Sang Ning outright expelling him. But considering today’s careful arrangements, it was clear that he was thinking about their future together.

Ji Hengyu lightly tapped her forehead. “To follow me is to endure hardship.”

Sang Sang was momentarily stunned, then smiled and threw herself into his arms. “I love you, Husband. I’ve never felt hardship.” She grinned sweetly. “Sang Sang wants to be with Husband for all eternity.”

“All eternity.”

Upon hearing this, Ji Hengyu was momentarily taken aback. For him, it was an incredibly distant concept, though not entirely impossible.

He could protect her in this life. When she reincarnated, he would seek her again.

As a practitioner of the Way, he had never feared the passage of time.

The two stood embraced in the corridor, oblivious to their surroundings, until a colorful feather shuttlecock landed at their feet. A childish voice suddenly interrupted them—

“Kick it back to me!”

Sang Sang and Ji Hengyu quickly separated.

The little girl had two round buns tied atop her head and wore a pink-and-green skirt. She appeared to be about four or five years old, with big black eyes and a cherubic face that was utterly endearing.

Ji Hengyu picked up the shuttlecock and handed it back to her.

The little girl tilted her head, cradling the shuttlecock as she examined the two of them from left to right. Then, smiling, she revealed two tiny milk teeth: “Big Sister and Big Sister’s husband are so handsome~”

The sweet-talking little girl easily won Sang Sang’s affection. Just as she thought to ask a maid to fetch something for her, the child’s nurse rushed over, scooping her up in panic, clearly fearing they might be offended.

Sang Sang felt a pang of regret and asked, “Whose child is she?”

The maid replied: “She’s the steward’s granddaughter, just arrived these past couple of days.”

“She’s quite adorable,” Sang Sang commented casually to Ji Hengyu, “Isn’t she?”

Ji Hengyu hadn’t expected her to say this. After a brief moment of thought, he nodded.

This trivial incident left no trace in Sang Sang’s mind.

________________________________________

Night fell swiftly, and Sang Sang was still thinking about what had happened in Zhuxi Village. She had always been vindictive and petty. Although today’s conflict hadn’t resulted in severe consequences, it still felt like a thorn in her heart. The thought of Ji Hengyu being treated so poorly made her blood boil.

Though Old Master Chen had been brought to justice, Chen Fu was still roaming free.

And then there was Lai Zi, the idle hooligan who often loitered outside their courtyard. Initially, Sang Sang had turned a blind eye to avoid trouble, never expecting him to actually scheme against her.

Taking advantage of her undisturbed bath, Sang Sang quietly climbed out of the tub.

Ji Hengyu, reserved by nature, never entered while she bathed, allowing her to act without worry.

Just in case, Sang Sang placed a puppet in the tub and transformed into mist, drifting away unnoticed.

The distance from the town to Zhuxi Village was but a breath away.

She landed silently at the village entrance. Shedding her mortal disguise, Sang Sang wore a dark red dress, her wavy hair trailing on the ground. Snake-shaped ornaments adorned her ink-black tresses, her eyebrows extending elegantly to her temples, and a luminous demonic diadem graced her forehead.

Sang Sang formed a seal with her fingers and summoned two snakes.

One was red; the other black, with star-like sparks dotting their tails.

She commanded the two snakes to infiltrate the village while she flew up into a tree to await developments.

The night in Zhuxi Village was tranquil, and Sang Sang leaned lazily against the trunk, lulled by the chirping of nocturnal insects. She began to drift off.

Suddenly—

A surge of unfamiliar energy jolted her awake.

The snake puppets she had sent into the village… their presence had vanished.

Red mist flickered in Sang Sang’s pupils.

From the woods, the air currents stirred, and a tall silhouette emerged in the darkness.

“Demon.”

His voice was low and cold, tinged with a subtle familiarity.

Before Sang Sang could react, sword qi shot toward her. With no time to think, she dodged, spreading her arms to summon a thick toxic fog.

Within the poisonous miasma, vegetation withered, and a rain of sword arrays descended, attempting to trap Sang Sang.

Through these two moves, Sang Sang discerned the opponent’s identity—

A disciple of Tiange (Celestial Pavilion).

For five hundred years, apart from evading persecution by remnants of the demon faction, Sang Sang and Sang Ning had also been wary of Tiange.

In the Three Realms, the Divine Domain most feared the rise of a new Demon King.

The cause was a prophecy: celestial signs indicated that within a thousand years, a Demon Lord born from Tianzhechuan would one day destroy the Three Realms.

Celestial omens were never wrong. Upon this revelation, the Divine Domain treated it as an imminent threat, dispatching disciples to lurk among mortals and investigate unusual disturbances in the demon realm.

Sang Ning feared Tiange. Since returning to the demon realm, he had forbidden her from leaving Tianzhechuan without permission. It wasn’t until she met Ji Hengyu and concealed her identity that she remained in the mortal world.

Sang Sang hadn’t expected to encounter someone from Tiange in such a place.

Naturally, she had no intention of letting him live.

A flash of ruthlessness crossed her eyes, and just as she was about to strike, flames erupted in Zhuxi Village. House after house was engulfed in fire, and terrified screams pierced the night—

“It’s terrible! Lai Zi’s house is on fire!”

“The Chen family’s burning too!”

“Quick, quick! Hurry and put out the fire!”

Sang Sang turned her attention toward the commotion, feeling a sense of satisfaction.

It seemed her snakes hadn’t failed entirely.

Sang Sang then looked toward where the sword cultivator stood.

He appeared to be using some kind of invisibility technique, making it impossible for her to see his face. She could only vaguely discern his tall, blurred outline.

Calculating the time, she realized she had exceeded her limit. If she didn’t return soon, it would be too late.

Having achieved her goal, Sang Sang saw no reason to prolong the confrontation. She gave a faint smile in his direction: “You little cultivator, consider yourself lucky.”

With that, Sang Sang vanished.

Standing in the shadows, Ji Hengyu was momentarily startled by the overly familiar tone. Before he could pursue her, he suddenly felt the pull of the puppet in the courtyard.

Frowning, he glanced at the fiery glow behind him, sheathed his sword, and melted into the night.