The fierce wind blew Yan Chaosheng’s robe violently. Liu Shuang held the hem of his robe: “Husband, shall we walk around the Ghost Realm? Can we return to the palace later?”

Yan Chaosheng put away his halberd but didn’t immediately respond.

Fu Hang stood behind him, unable to guess the Demon Lord’s mood. No one had expected that the battle with Feng Fuming would take a full five days. Now with the Ghost Gate open and thousands of demons arriving to pay tribute, they needed to return to the palace to attend to matters, rather than indulge in this romantic interlude.

But for Liu Shuang, the time she could spend alone with Yan Chaosheng was too limited. She had waited for him for five days, and once they returned to the Ghost Realm palace, he would become the lord of two realms again, rather than her husband alone.

If she didn’t seize this moment, once Yan Chaosheng became busy, she might not even have the chance to present her gift. She touched the binding band in her bosom, which she had crafted by exhausting all her spiritual power. It had been too long since she had spent quality time with him.

Yan Chaosheng’s smile didn’t change, but he brushed her hand away. His tone had already returned to the Demon Lord’s customary coldness. He casually wiped Feng Fuming’s blood from his hands and said, “Another day. Su Lun, take My Lady back.”

With that, he was about to leave with Fu Hang.

Su Lun glanced at Liu Shuang, who was left standing there, clearly disappointed, yet still obedient, neither making a fuss nor causing a scene. He sighed inwardly and smiled: “Your Majesty, the Demon Lord, there are still two hours before the banquet begins. We subordinates will arrange everything properly. Today is your birthday, and the Ghost Realm will surely be extremely lively. My Lady has been in the Ghost Realm for so long, yet rarely goes out. You might as well take a moment to rest. Other matters can be left to Lord Fu Hang. I believe Lord Fu Hang will not disappoint you.”

His fox-like eyes swept toward Fu Hang as he smiled: “Isn’t that right, Lord Fu Hang?”

Fu Hang’s mouth twitched, inwardly cursing this male fox spirit ten thousand times. His grim face twisted for a moment: “Yes, this subordinate will arrange these demon envoys well, ensuring they don’t cause trouble.”

“See? Lord Fu Hang has spoken. If he doesn’t handle it well, you can punish him. My Lord, just consider it a patrol of the Ghost Realm with My Lady.”

Yan Chaosheng neither agreed nor disagreed. Liu Shuang’s clean, small face was somewhat pale, bearing traces of fragility from lack of rest. When Su Lun spoke for her, she looked at him with water-filled eyes that seemed to speak.

Yan Chaosheng knew that even if he refused, she would only be disappointed briefly. The next time she saw him, she would be happy again, her eyes brightening.

There was no need to bother comforting her; she could comfort herself.

The corner of his eye lifted slightly, and for some unknown reason, he suddenly said to her: “Today is the Ghost Parade. The streets are full of ghosts.”

Liu Shuang was taken aback, then understood his meaning. Happiness spread in her eyes as she shook her head vigorously: “With husband here, I’m not afraid.”

“Mm.” Yan Chaosheng didn’t turn his head, saying coldly: “Fu Hang, if any demon envoy causes trouble, bring me their head.”

Fu Hang glanced at Su Lun, who was waving his fan, looking dignified and elegant. He gritted his teeth and saluted: “This subordinate understands.”

Dark silk streamers hung from every eave in the Ghost Realm.

Once a year, the typically gloomy Ghost Realm was at its liveliest on this day. To everyone, Yan Chaosheng was the finest lord, having pacified the injustices of the Eight Wildernesses and established a golden age for both the Demon and Ghost Realms.

Like a founding emperor in the mortal realm, he was deeply beloved.

Liu Shuang walked alongside Yan Chaosheng through the streets of the Ghost Realm, watching ghost children run along the roads. Coming and going, they all wore faint smiles on their faces.

Her heart swelled with pride for Yan Chaosheng, warm enough to bubble.

This was Liu Shuang’s first time walking on such bustling Ghost Realm streets. Unlike the mortal realm, the colors here were darker, and among the items for sale were even magical artifacts made from white bones.

Liu Shuang found everything fascinating.

She wasn’t averse to lively places, but her immortal body was incompatible with the Ghost Realm. She could be immediately identified as not being a ghost cultivator, and without protection, she could easily encounter danger. Knowing that Yan Chaosheng was busy in the past, and fearing to cause him trouble, she had obediently stayed in her courtyard, not wandering about.

After walking just a short distance, many covetous gazes fell upon her. To them, a small celestial grass was no different from a sweet pastry.

Yan Chaosheng coldly glanced over, and though many ghost cultivators had never seen their king, they were frightened by his overwhelming aura and withdrew their gazes. Still wearing his battle robe, from a distance, he appeared to be a powerful ghost cultivator full of killing intent. People of the Ghost Realm had always respected strength, and before long, those malicious gazes were retracted.

Yan Chaosheng noticed that the person beside him hadn’t kept up. He turned around to find Liu Shuang looking in one direction.

At a deep blue corner tower on the street, a beautiful female cultivator with half of her chest exposed was hooking the neck of a male ghost cultivator, kissing him passionately.

And his small celestial grass consort was watching.

Noticing Liu Shuang’s gaze, the female cultivator cast a blatantly seductive look at her. She seemed frightened and quickly ran to his side: “Husband.”

Yan Chaosheng knew she had received a different upbringing. Her mortal mother had taught her the hypocritical ways of mortals. Most mortals both feared and despised ghost cultivators. Though Yan Chaosheng now unified two realms, he couldn’t change others’ views—he couldn’t simply kill all those ants.

His temperament was cold, his tone indifferent, with a hint of mockery: “You’re afraid already? After a hundred years, has no one told you that demon and ghost cultivators are naturally uninhibited? If you’re truly scared, just go back…” After all, such scenes were everywhere in the Ghost Realm.

He hadn’t finished speaking before realizing this wasn’t the case.

Her eyes were filled with eager anticipation.

Yan Chaosheng was silent for a moment, his voice hard: “What kind of look is that?”

She said: “Husband, can we…” She looked at his slender, pale fingers concealed under his battle robe, then extended her small hand, indicating that he should hold it.

He snorted lightly: “It’s improper. I am the Demon Lord.”

Liu Shuang thought for a moment, then bought a white jade mask from a nearby vendor and returned, standing on tiptoe to put it on. She examined him from all angles. Even with his face covered, the Demon Lord still exuded uncommon nobility.

“Now no one will recognize you.”

Liu Shuang couldn’t see what expression lay beneath the mask, only his pair of pitch-black eyes, cold as the night stars.

The two remained at an impasse for a good while. Then, her hand was enveloped by a cold, pale hand. Liu Shuang’s lips couldn’t help but curl upward, though she tried to suppress it. There were indeed ghost cultivators who weren’t uninhibited.

As they reached the liveliest area, Liu Shuang thought of the brocade box in her bosom: “Husband, I have…”

Before she could finish, a maidservant hastily knelt before Yan Chaosheng: “Demon Lord, something terrible has happened! Without the life-bound jade bamboo, even the Ming Xi Pearl can’t contain it. My master is in danger!”

Liu Shuang was startled. She had never seen this maidservant before. She wasn’t a ghost cultivator but rather carried an aura of immortal energy.

Yan Chaosheng’s tone was icy: “What?”

Liu Shuang felt her hand being released, and in the blink of an eye, Yan Chaosheng disappeared with the maidservant.

He had forgotten about her at his side, leaving without a word of explanation or comfort, not even a glance back.

The white jade mask fell at Liu Shuang’s feet, making a crisp sound. The Ghost Realm had no scorching sun, only bone-chilling, strong winds that blew against Liu Shuang.

In the shadows, many dark eyes instantly locked onto her. A chill tinged with a foul stench came from behind.

Liu Shuang turned in panic. A ghost cultivator wearing a cloak reached out to her, cackling: “Since he’s not by your side, we won’t be polite.”

He said greedily: “So fragrant, such fragrant immortal energy.”

Not just him, other ghost cultivators also surged forward, eager to get a share. In the palace, Liu Shuang had never seen so many ghost cultivators. It was like suddenly being plunged from bright daylight into a terrifying abyss.

Countless ghastly white hands came to grab her. Some were mere skeletons. Liu Shuang tried to form immortal spells to repel them, but all her spiritual power, along with her love for Yan Chaosheng, had been poured into the brocade box. Almost without any resistance, she was grabbed by the neck and dragged forward.

Someone said: “Wang Zhi, finders share. If you eat her alone, aren’t you afraid that ghost cultivator will come back for revenge?”

The ghost cultivator smiled grimly and said, “What’s there to fear? If he truly cared for her, would he leave her in such a place?”

His words struck at the thought Liu Shuang was most unwilling to face. Her face turned deathly pale as she looked at the white jade mask discarded not far away.

All this happened almost in an instant. Yan Chaosheng had abandoned her.

Her expression was empty and bewildered. Liu Shuang felt as if she were in an extremely absurd dream. Unfortunately, the hand on her neck, almost freezing her skin, told her this was not a nightmare.

The brocade box in her hand was knocked over, falling to the ground.

She reached out in panic, instinctively wanting to protect it. But the box had been smashed open, and the binding band had fallen out.

She watched helplessly as countless feet trampled over it, turning the bright blue to a filthy mess.

The hand on her neck tightened, the white bones almost sinking into her flesh. She only looked at the trampled brocade box, not crying once.

Just when Liu Shuang thought she might die like this, the ghost cultivators seemed to sense danger and scattered with a clamor.

A fan sliced through the throat of the ghost cultivator holding her. The ghost cultivator screamed miserably, turning into a cloud of black gas. The fan whirled back, landing in the newcomer’s hand.

Su Lun said: “My Lady…” with something like pity, like a sigh.

Liu Shuang didn’t speak. She crouched down, coughing desperately, picking up the soiled hairband. She patted off the dirt, finding it impossible to clean.

Su Lun materialized a brocade robe and draped it over her: “My Lady, the strong winds on the street are harsh. Shall this subordinate take you back first?”

She nodded, just like every day and night of the past hundred years, giving no trouble to anyone, walking behind him.

Su Lun’s back was to her, the smile fading from his face. The words he spoke seemed forced and bitter even to himself: “My Lady, please understand. A major incident occurred in the Ghost Realm, which is why the Demon Lord rushed back. The Demon Lord left this subordinate and Chang Huan with My Lady. Nothing will happen to My Lady. Today was this subordinate’s failure, allowing My Lady to be hurt. This subordinate will accept punishment upon return. My Lady can decide the punishment.”

Liu Shuang, behind him, did not react for a long time.

Su Lun didn’t dare to turn around. Even he, a thousand-year-old demon, was afraid to turn back and see a tear-streaked face.

After a long while, a very soft voice came from behind.

“Lord Su Lun.”

Su Lun turned to see a pale little face.

Surprisingly, there were no tears on her face. She gripped the dirty binding band tightly, asking him in a tone so serious it was almost heartbreaking: “Does my husband… not love me? You’ve been lying to me all along, haven’t you?”

No matter how naive and pure she was, she knew that loving someone wasn’t like this.

Love wouldn’t mean coldly leaving because of someone else’s words, abandoning her among wolves.