If she still had a tail now, Ruyi would perk it up to the roof beams.
So what if Shen Qiyuan was an immortal? For her to come to the mortal world, he also had to go through considerable trouble. She wasn’t just any ordinary demon—she was the demon at the very tip of his heart.
“Elder Sister.” The skylark sighed deeply, “Master said that divine-demon romance has never had good endings since ancient times, otherwise Heaven wouldn’t impose heavenly punishment to forcibly stop it. You’re someone who will inherit the demon throne—how can you sink so deep into this?”
“Which eye of yours sees me sinking deep?” She dissatisfiedly poked the little head, “Men are dispensable things. I’m just playing around with him a bit more for the sake of his deep feelings.”
“Playing around?” The skylark raised her eyebrows skeptically.
“Playing around.” Ruyi nodded with certainty.
Given her absurd past, these words were barely believable. The skylark relaxed her guard.
However, early the next morning, Ruyi drove to Chaotian Gate, not caring that the ice and snow hadn’t melted on this journey, with winter haze hanging heavy.
She propped her chin and carelessly watched the people coming and going on the official road, her expression listless and quite impatient. But when Shen Qiyuan’s figure appeared, the skylark saw her eyes light up like stars filling a city, dots connecting into brilliant splendor.
“How are you here?” Shen Qiyuan strode over.
Ruyi sat on the cart shaft, smiling sweetly as she said to him: “I got up early to buy some ingredients the restaurant needs from the Eastern Market, and came by the way to see if I could run into you.”
Reaching out to stroke his cold cheek, she said meaningfully: “My luck is really good.”
The skylark didn’t dare approach, only watching from afar, also feeling it was hopeless.
Elder Sister’s appearance—where did it look like just casual playing? Just speaking of this gaze, it was completely different from when she looked at those male favorites before, shimmering with light like morning clouds.
She flapped her wings worriedly.
The distant Master Shen suddenly turned back, his gaze sharp as he looked in her direction. Killing intent like tangible blade edges instantly pressed against her neck.
The skylark was so frightened she sat back and nearly fell off the branch.
“What are you looking over there for?” Elder Sister timely grabbed his chin and pulled it back, proudly yet charmingly saying, “Look at me.”
Shen Qiyuan came to his senses and slightly pursed his lips: “It’s not safe outside lately, you should also be more careful.”
The continuous half-month of seeking gods and expelling demons had awakened many lurking great demons, and cases of demons harming people had already appeared in Lin’an.
He felt somewhat regretful—if only he had already become a god, with cultivation powerful enough to detect all demonic movements, then he could protect all the people. But now he was only a god cultivator, only able to arrive after cases occurred.
“Get in the cart first.” Ruyi pulled him up and brushed the snow off his shoulders. “I’ll take you back to the Shen Manor.”
Shen Qiyuan nodded and looked sideways out the window, but the melancholy in his eyes deepened.
Since he came to the mortal world to train, he should protect all living beings within his sight, yet unexpectedly, the number of refugees in the city still hadn’t decreased. Although he had already obtained imperial permission to use state granary grain for disaster relief, the destroyed fields and houses were still difficult to restore.
Why had Great Qian suffered such heavy disasters?
The cart wheels slowly rolled past a temple, where incense burned brightly before the tall azure god statue inside.
Shen Qiyuan suddenly felt a headache.
…
“I swear by my thousand years of bitter cultivation that once I become the Azure God, I will fulfill my duties.”
“Listening to the wishes of all living beings, suppressing demons in one region, impartial and just, with righteousness shining bright.”
…
The wind and snow outside suddenly intensified, causing even the horse cart to halt. Ruyi clicked her tongue and was about to turn to speak with him when she saw that the person beside her had a pale face, dazed as if possessed by nightmares.
She frowned and turned her hand to press his brow center.
Shen Qiyuan opened his eyes, full of confusion: “I fell asleep?”
As consciousness gradually returned, he sighed in relief: “How frightening, I dreamed I became the Azure God and failed in my heavenly duties.”
Ruyi half-lowered her eyes and snorted with laughter: “You’re just too righteous at heart. So what if you fail in heavenly duties? They still enjoy mortal incense offerings—as long as you don’t slaughter everyone under heaven, they won’t come down to manage you.”
Shen Qiyuan looked at her with great surprise: “How can you think this way?”
As fellow god cultivators, they should know the weight of heavenly mandate. If they all became negative and neglectful of duty, what would become of this world?
She raised both hands high and admitted fault quickly: “I was wrong.”
Her attitude was sincere, leaving him with no reason to say more.
Shen Qiyuan helplessly shook his head.
The two soon arrived at the Shen Manor entrance.
“If you have time recently, could you help me with something?” Shen Qiyuan called over a steward and handed her a box of banknotes, “It’s too cold, the city refugees lack clothes and bedding—I’m afraid they can’t make it through.”
Ruyi cried out and raised her sleeve to cover her eyes: “Such strong Buddha light!”
He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, pulling down her hand and placing the box in it.
“Is Elder Sister going to help him?”
—On the way back, the skylark chattered and flew beside her.
Ruyi played with the heavy box without answering.
The skylark became anxious: “We demons don’t need to accumulate virtue and do good deeds—not eating those people alive is already good enough. If Elder Sister helps him, she’ll be laughed at by other demons!”
“You talk too much.” Ruyi dissatisfiedly grabbed her and threw her out the window.
The skylark was instantly blown by the wind and snow outside until her wings froze, squawking chaotically as she flew back into the carriage and huddled under soft blankets, shivering.
“I’ve done this before.” Ruyi leaned against soft pillows, saying carelessly, “When I was driven back to Qidou Mountain that year.”
At that time, his casual remark that “an arranged marriage wouldn’t be so bad” angered her so much that she ignored him for two days.
As a result, two days later, Shen Qiyuan took her down the mountain to distribute porridge and give out clothes.
This work was bitter and tiring, sometimes encountering refugees who fought roughly over things. After persisting for three days, she lost her temper, feeling Shen Qiyuan was tormenting her.
Much later, she discovered that Shen Qiyuan wanted to accumulate good fortune for her.
The young Master Shen was clumsy and didn’t know how to please people, but he knew how to plan for her. In his eyes, everything about her was good—if she suffered setbacks and hardships, it must be because she didn’t have enough good fortune.
Remembering that heart-stirring moment, Ruyi waved her hand to fan the heat on her face and muttered: “I’ll just help a little, consider it repayment.”
The skylark flapped her wings frantically: “Demons helping mortals—if this gets out—”
The small pointed beak was pinched, and her voice stopped abruptly.
Ruyi looked at her with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, saying softly: “How would it get out, hmm?”
The skylark shivered and obediently folded back her wildly flapping wings: “I’ll keep my mouth sealed.”
Only then was she satisfied and nodded.
Saying she would just help a little, Ruyi made a grand gesture, buying nearly half of the disaster-affected fields and damaged houses in the city outskirts. The prices weren’t high, but buying so many still cost quite a bit. Then, on an idle plot of land in the eastern city, she built rows of small grass huts. Inside was very cramped, only fitting one bed and one chair, but they were affordable, only costing one wen per day to stay.