“Yuan Ji, maybe we should pull him out of the water first? If he soaks any longer, he might not make it.” A’Tong, perched on Yuan Ji’s shoulder, whispered a reminder, attempting to break the strange standoff between the two who were locked in a silent stare-down.
Yuan Ji watched the man in the water breathing weakly. Droplets continuously rolled from his hairline, disappearing into the dark red collar of his robes. Beneath it, skin, pale as snow with a bluish tint, trembled faintly with each of his breaths.
The man stared unblinkingly at Yuan Ji. A hazy mist clung to his long lashes, and when the sunlight glanced off them, the plea in his eyes seemed to break free like hands reaching out from a cage, begging for rescue.
The color was slowly draining from his lips. His body shivered uncontrollably.
“He seems like he’s about to freeze to death.”
Yuan Ji’s expression darkened slightly. After a moment of silence, she used her magic to pull him from the river.
“A’Tong, I’m just saving him,” Yuan Ji stated.
A’Tong nodded hurriedly. “Naturally, naturally. You are a proper River God, you wouldn’t engage in that wife-taking business. Besides, this person looks like he’s dressed… for a specific purpose. Perhaps it’s just a coincidence.”
A’Tong explained with a serious tone, though its gaze couldn’t help but linger on the man.
Wow, it’s really all red, just like in those storybooks.
Better not let Yuan Ji find out about those.
Once ashore, the man swayed unsteadily. Amidst the shimmer of gold and red, jade ornaments clinked together, producing a series of clear, crystalline sounds.
That familiar, subtle fragrance filled Yuan Ji’s senses again, stirring something within her. She instinctively reached out, gripping the man’s arm and pulling him closer to her side.
In the next instant, a figure adorned with what seemed like fragmented golden light fell into her embrace.
“You smell wonderful,” Yuan Ji said earnestly, her tone pure and clear, much like someone sitting by a bonfire on a bitterly cold evening, watching the crimson sun sink below the horizon and sighing, “How lovely.”
A soft chuckle, vibrating through his chest, reached Yuan Ji’s ears. The man slowly lowered his head, his silk-like black hair brushing against Yuan Ji’s neck. “Then… do you like it?”
Though the words were an ordinary question, to A’Tong’s ears, they sounded unmistakably like flirtation.
A’Tong’s hand, clutching a storybook, trembled uncontrollably. Its mouth hung open in stunned silence as it watched its perfectly proper host and this stunningly beautiful “bride.” “Could this be the next one?” A’Tong gulped, closing its eyes devoutly for a moment of silent mourning for the now-past “Qi Yan.”
So the storybooks were true after all. Even the most stubborn people are honest in their physical reactions. It’s just that reaching this heartwarming conclusion always involves navigating a rough and bumpy path.
Maybe, Yuan Ji, you should really read these storybooks to gain some experience.
“Mmm,” Yuan Ji made a noncommittal sound. Looking into those red eyes, she was reminded once again that this man was not Qi Yan. She took half a step back, constantly reminding herself she was a “proper River God.” “What business do you have with me?”
Unbeknownst to Yuan Ji, the locator gu insect she had put away was flashing desperately. Its previously faint glow now shone like bright sunlight. It wished it could fly out and tell Yuan Ji: I found him!
Hearing the answer he wanted, a touch of vivid color bloomed on his pale lips.
“Qí Guān Shàng. You can call me A’Shàng.”
“Yuan Ji.”
A smile spread to Qí Guān Shàng’s eyes. He then pulled a bronze token from his robes and handed it to Yuan Ji.
“The Swastika Bronze Token!” Yuan Ji was surprised. She already had four; she never expected to encounter the fifth one today. “Where did you get this?”
“Six days ago, I accidentally entered a hidden realm and found this object. Someone placed a curse on it. Anyone who touches it will die a sudden death within seven days.” Qí Guān Shàng’s tone was low, carrying a hint of inexplicable grievance.
“The people in my clan searched for a way to break the curse but found none. Fearing the curse would take effect and bring disaster upon them, they exiled me.”
“Only one elder took pity on me. He told me the patterns on this curse are related to the vanished divine race. Only a divine being can break it.”
Qí Guān Shàng lifted his head, looking directly at Yuan Ji. “I heard there is only one god left in this world. So I came to find you.”
Cursed for no reason, facing imminent death, and then exiled by his own clan—a truly tragic fate.
Hearing this, Yuan Ji fell silent for a long time.
A’Tong heard this, glanced at its storybook, and fell into an even deeper silence.
“Fortunately,” Qí Guān Shàng said with a graceful, relieved smile, his eyes filled with acceptance, “even if I depart this world tomorrow, meeting you once means I can die without regrets.”
“You…” Yuan Ji looked at him with a complex expression, her curiosity ultimately getting the better of her. “Are you dressed like this because of the curse?”
Yuan Ji ventured a guess: the curse must be so vicious that one needed to wear celebratory colors to suppress its evil nature.
Thinking this, Yuan Ji couldn’t help but silently agree with A’Tong. What a pitiable man!
Hearing this, Qí Guān Shàng looked down at his attire and let out a sound of sudden surprise. “Oh?”
Yuan Ji saw a flash of astonishment in his eyes. For some reason, a weight in her heart settled comfortably.
It must be the curse. Look, he doesn’t even know what he’s wearing.
Poor Qí Guān Shàng.
“So that’s where it went. A pity.” Qí Guān Shàng looked regretfully towards the center of the river where a red handkerchief had been swallowed by a whirlpool. He turned back, brushing aside his damp, ink-black hair. “Dressed like this, naturally, it’s because of…”
“The River God taking a bride.”
Yuan Ji: ……??!!
Yuan Ji’s calm spirit sea was rocked by this short sentence. She took a sharp step back, putting distance between herself and Qí Guān Shàng, steadfastly maintaining her divine integrity.
“You’ve been deceived,” Yuan Ji said with a stern face. “The River God does not take brides.”
A sly glint flashed quickly through Qí Guān Shàng’s eyes. He feigned slight confusion and slowly moved closer to Yuan Ji. “But the River God really did save me and pull me ashore.”
Yuan Ji shot him a glance, her voice cold with threat. “I can always throw you back in.”
A’Tong was horrified: Yuan Ji, you mustn’t!
Qí Guān Shàng: …
Qí Guān Shàng gave a light cough, barely suppressing the laughter in his throat. His well-defined fingers, covering his blood-tinted lips, left only a pair of injured red eyes fixed directly on Yuan Ji. Even the slightly upturned corners of his eyes drooped dejectedly. How pitiful.
Yuan Ji: …Fine.
Suppressing that familiar feeling in her heart once again, Yuan Ji sighed and decided to see what this man’s true intentions were in approaching her.
“Let me see this curse. Once it’s broken, you will return,” Yuan Ji said, lowering her long lashes, her eyes filled with aloofness.
“Thank you, Yuan Ji.” Qí Guān Shàng was satisfied, a carefully crafted look of overwhelmed gratitude appearing on his face. He leaned in close to Yuan Ji, his fingers gripping his lapel, and slowly pulled it open.
Without the dark red robe blocking the view skin as cold and pale as moonlight was fully exposed. A red, thorn-like tattoo extended slowly down from the collarbone. Where the bones rose, the tattoos intertwined, shaped like dragon claws grasping.
Yuan Ji examined the patterns carefully, her gaze fixed unwaveringly on the spot over Qí Guān Shàng’s sternum. She blinked, surprised. “This tattoo…”
Her glossy fingertip pressed against Qí Guān Shàng’s sternum. He shuddered violently for an instant before quickly regaining his composure.
Her finger pressed on a tiny golden point of light within the tattoo and slowly traced it, moving from the sternum to the center of his chest, downward…
Qí Guān Shàng’s breath hitched. The next moment, he reached up and grabbed Yuan Ji’s finger. Meeting her puzzled gaze, his throat moved, and he said hoarsely,
“Be careful.”
“It bites.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, just as he said, the golden light Yuan Ji had been pressing on suddenly jumped, aiming to bite her.
Yuan Ji tilted her head, turned her hand to grasp Qí Guān Shàng’s, and pressed it down.
White light poured forth, slapping that barely perceptible golden light back fiercely.
Smack! The golden light retracted into the thorny tattoo, not daring to peek out again.
“Bite who?” Yuan Ji raised an eyebrow.
“The River God is mighty.” Qí Guān Shàng silently clenched his hand, a few threads of laughter vibrating in his chest.
Yuan Ji felt strange under his gaze and turned her head to avoid it. “Your tattoo is actually alive. The curse must be hidden within it.”
“Don’t worry. We just need to burn it away.”
Yuan Ji summoned a flame. The scorching fire danced twice, and Qí Guān Shàng’s robes became much drier. Even his skin, which had taken on a bluish-purple hue, gradually became clearer.
“Yuan Ji, be careful!” A’Tong was horrified. “If you burn it with that flame, the curse might be gone, but so will the person!”
“Are you exorcising a curse or performing a cremation?”
Yuan Ji: …Tch.
She clicked her tongue in annoyance, wondering what other method to use, when she heard Qí Guān Shàng say in surprise,
“The tattoo seems to have faded a bit.” Qí Guān Shàng pointed to the spot Yuan Ji had pressed for her to see. “It seems suppressed.”
Yuan Ji squinted and looked. It really had faded significantly. Her previously gloomy mood lightened considerably.
She rested her chin on her hand, thought for a moment, then reached out again, pressing against Qí Guān Shàng’s chest, and released white light.
After a while, the white light faded, but the tattoo hadn’t lightened one bit.
A’Tong mused quietly, “Maybe today’s progress is already maxed out? Like our system tasks?”
Yuan Ji: …
She looked up at Qí Guān Shàng before her. “Shall I try again?”
This request from Yuan Ji was naturally exactly what Qí Guān Shàng wanted. He openly spread his arms, allowing Yuan Ji to experiment on him.
Shine here.
Shine over there.
And here, shine again.
Throughout the entire process, Qí Guān Shàng kept his head lowered, watching Yuan Ji, his gaze closely following her, as if he wanted to permanently etch her subtle expressions into his memory.
Until an exclamation broke the tranquility.
“My Lord, I’ve come to save you!”
Hearing this, the two turned to look. A stooped, white-haired old man was running towards them, brandishing a walking stick. His face, etched with deep wrinkles, was full of tragic determination.
He flew while shouting, “She-demon, stop!”
“You actually used a immobilization spell on my Lord, taking the opportunity to commit disgraceful acts! I won’t let you get away with this!”
“My Lord, fear not! This old servant is here to aid you!”
Yuan Ji…?
Qí Guān Shàng: …Tch.
Hearing this, Yuan Ji turned to look behind her. No one. So, the ‘she-demon’ is me?
Yuan Ji fell silent.
She flicked her fingertips. White light flew out. Thread-like rays of white light transformed into thousands of iron chains, weaving into a cage in an instant that trapped the old man inside.
“What is he saying?”
Qí Guān Shàng: …
“My Lord… you finally woke up, only to suffer such a vicious attack. This old servant is useless… I failed to take good care of you…”
Seeing no hope of breaking free, the old man tossed his walking stick aside, grabbed the iron chains, and began to wail loudly—a true man of strong emotions.
Qí Guān Shàng fell silent again. He pressed his fingers to his temple, feeling a headache coming on, but he couldn’t pretend he hadn’t heard.
“He is the old servant who has always taken care of me in the clan.”
“Exiled from the clan along with me. We… depend on each other for survival.”
Qí Guān Shàng’s expression was somber; his words would sadden any who heard them and bring tears to any who listened.
Only, in the moment he lowered his head, unseen by Yuan Ji, a cold glare swept fiercely over the old man in the cage. The latter immediately fell silent, not daring to utter another mournful cry.
Yuan Ji nodded. “I see.”
Qí Guān Shàng hurriedly pressed her hand against his chest again. “Yuan Ji, would you like to try again?”
