Side Story
Once all the turmoil had settled, Yuan Ji and Qi Guan Shang returned to the River God Temple. There, they saw a crowd gathered around the massive incense burner at the entrance, and Yuan Ji suddenly remembered that she seemed to have forgotten something.
A small head popped out from the burner, glanced timidly at the people before it, and quickly ducked back in.
Suddenly, Wu Du seemed to catch a scent. His nose twitched twice, his eyes lit up, and he shot out of the incense burner, heading straight for Yuan Ji.
It’s the master’s aura! The master has returned!
“Master!”
Everyone present saw a blurry shadow flash past. Before they could react, they saw a pair of slender hands grab Wu Du by the scruff of his neck and lift him up.
Qi Guan Shang’s face was dark, his expression displeased as he stared at Wu Du, trying to search his memory for any recollection of this creature.
When did he show up?
“You?”
“Ahhh!” Unexpectedly, Wu Du let out a piercing scream as if he had seen something terrifying, struggling desperately.
The master… was actually the River God!
Remembering his own irreverent behavior back inside the Drunken Blood Treasure Glaze, Wu Du felt like his whole world was shattering, and he began to sob uncontrollably.
It’s over, everything is over. Tears streamed down his face like floodwaters bursting through a dam.
Immediately, Qi Guan Shang held the boy a bit farther away with some distaste. Such a noisy creature should be dealt with sooner rather than later.
However, his demeanor was interpreted differently by the onlookers.
Fang Mingzhu had already inquired about this child’s origins the moment Wu Du appeared.
He was the posthumous child left for the River God by Cultivator Qi Yan.
While they couldn’t quite comprehend how Cultivator Qi Yan could have given birth to such a large child overnight, given the River God’s vast supernatural powers, it wasn’t entirely impossible.
Seeing the terrified look on Wu Du’s face, Fang Mingzhu felt a pang of pity. “Lord Qi Guan, be gentle. This is, after all, the River God’s child.”
Qi Guan Shang’s hand went slack instantly. He turned to look at Yuan Ji, who stood nearby looking perfectly calm and unruffled.
He asked incredulously, “Is it true?”
Seeing his expression, Yuan Ji found it hard to understand the devastation in his eyes. She nodded slightly, puzzled. “Mm.”
A strange aura began to emanate from Qi Guan Shang’s entire body. Wu Du instantly froze, shrinking his neck and allowing himself to be held by the scruff. He had a feeling that if he moved even a muscle now, the other man would not hesitate to snap his neck.
What… what’s happening?
Why is his killing intent so strong all of a sudden? Wu Du thought, on the verge of a breakdown.
However, Qi Guan Shang did not lose his temper. He just looked at Yuan Ji, smiling gently, and asked in a seemingly casual yet pointed tone:
“Is that so? Why haven’t I heard you mention it, Yuan Ji? When did this happen?”
Hearing this, the people nearby exchanged glances and collectively took several steps back, distancing themselves from this dangerous situation.
Yuan Ji pressed a fingertip to her chin, pondered for a moment, but couldn’t find any related information in her memory either.
Yuan Ji stated honestly, “I forgot.”
“Tss—” Everyone sucked in a sharp, collective breath, feeling both shocked and impressed.
Truly the Demon Realm’s Venerable One, to remain so composed! What magnanimity!
But now, it seems the River God favors this Demon Realm Venerable so much that she can simply forget about Cultivator Qi Yan’s existence!
For a moment, the looks directed at Qi Guan Shang held a hint of admiration, which only made the corner of his eye twitch repeatedly.
Qi Guan Shang took a deep breath, clenching his back teeth.
These people…
Qi Guan Shang dismissed the crowd. After they left, his gaze softened as he looked at Yuan Ji. Slowly, he took her hand and clasped it in his palm, while subtly turning Wu Du’s body so the boy could see their tightly held hands.
“If this is your child, Yuan Ji, then why not entrust him to me? I will take good care of him.”
The smile on Qi Guan Shang’s face deepened, like a warm spring breeze that could make hearts flutter. Only Wu Du, held in his hand, felt a chilling draft and stared at Yuan Ji with a face full of “Save me!”
Yuan Ji chuckled softly. The little dragon who used to cling to her had grown up.
She nodded, about to say something, when Wu Du let out a loud “Waaah!” and started crying bitterly.
Qi Guan Shang immediately leaned down, his tone gentle and soothing. “What’s wrong?”
Only, in a place Yuan Ji couldn’t see, a flash of killing intent appeared in his eyes, belying his understanding demeanor before her.
He blinked, as if to say, “Make trouble, and I’ll kill you.”
Wu Du instantly shut his mouth tightly, just hugging the Heart Stone in his arms, tears brimming in his eyes as he silently pleaded with Yuan Ji.
Master, why is this bad guy always following you!
“Master,” Wu Du swallowed, trying to calm his emotions. “If I had known it was you who entered the Drunken Blood Treasure Glaze back then, I would have given you the Heart Stone immediately to help you regain your memories sooner.”
Yuan Ji raised an eyebrow, looking Wu Du up and down. “Now that I take a closer look, you do seem somewhat familiar.”
A chill ran up Wu Du’s spine to the back of his head, making his scalp tingle.
He hurriedly said, “Master, I’m that little crow!”
Little crow?
Yuan Ji looked thoughtful but blank, while Qi Guan Shang’s face instantly darkened beside her.
He remembered now. So it was that creature after all.
Should have eaten it back then!
Wu Du quickly struggled free from Qi Guan Shang’s grasp and scurried to Yuan Ji’s side.
“Master, have you forgotten? You saved me from the fire.”
As these words fell, something seemed to click in Yuan Ji’s memory. She guiltily rubbed her nose, glanced at the fuming Qi Guan Shang, and responded awkwardly.
“Ah?”
That day, the little silver dragon had just learned to take human form. Not yet in full control of his power, his transformation caused a little crow resting with its eyes closed on a branch to fall.
Unfortunately, Yuan Ji and the others had just lit a fire under that tree to roast some meat. So, the little crow plummeted straight into the flames.
Sparks flew everywhere from the blazing fire. Stunned, Yuan Ji immediately reached in to fish out the little crow.
The moment she grabbed Wu Du, a dry twig nearby scraped the pad of Yuan Ji’s finger. No one noticed a trace of blood seeping out and merging into Wu Du’s body.
After healing all the little unlucky one’s wounds, Yuan Ji placed him back on the branch.
It was just a minor incident, so Yuan Ji never gave it much thought.
However, that trace of Yuan Ji’s dragon blood within Wu Du helped an ordinary crow gain spiritual awareness and gradually begin to cultivate.
“If not for you, Master, I would have died long ago,” Wu Du said, gazing at Yuan Ji with wide, pleading eyes, as if trying to etch her image firmly into his memory. Back then, he was too injured to see her face clearly, only remembering her aura.
“In the future, if Master has any orders, I would dare to die ten thousand deaths without regret.”
Yuan Ji suddenly understood. “So it’s you.”
“No wonder I felt a familiar aura from you. It must be because of that drop of blood.”
Wu Du nodded hurriedly.
Suddenly, a cold, measured voice sounded behind him.
“Oh? Then how did you become Yuan Ji’s child?”
Yuan Ji looked puzzled. “A Shang, he carries my legacy.”
Qi Guan Shang raised a questioning eyebrow. “Hmm?”
Yuan Ji tilted her head, even more confused. “Hmm?”
In an instant, Qi Guan Shang seemed to grasp something. He laughed in exasperated anger. “Yuan Ji, you don’t actually think that having a similar legacy means he’s your descendant, do you?”
Yuan Ji couldn’t understand why he was speaking through gritted teeth. “Isn’t it?”
Qi Guan Shang: “…”
Qi Guan Shang’s eyes darkened. He stepped closer, his voice slightly lower. “Of course not. If you want to know, I’ll explain it to you tonight.”
“Ahem.” A light cough came from behind the two. Ye Wen Shu stood there awkwardly, rubbing his hands. “Um, River God.”
He glanced apologetically at Qi Guan Shang, his expression full of the will to survive as he explained, “The sect leaders from various sects have come in person, wishing to ask the River God if they may make offerings to you like the villagers do?”
“…” Yuan Ji felt a vein throb at her temple. The River God System had left her mind the moment A Tong returned to the Heavenly Dao. She no longer needed to gather any faith power.
So, Yuan Ji waved her hand impatiently. “Why make offerings to me? Let them go find their own paths.”
“Alright then, I’ll take my leave.” Ye Wen Shu smiled broadly, seemingly eager to depart. “I won’t disturb you and Lord Qi Guan any further.”
Seeing Ye Wen Shu leave, the noisy commotion outside the River God Temple gave Yuan Ji a headache. She unceremoniously shoved Wu Du into Qi Guan Shang’s hands.
“Then he’s your responsibility. I’m going to rest.”
Yuan Ji pursed her lips. Being a River God is such a bother. I’d rather go back to sleep and sunbathe.
Left standing in place, Qi Guan Shang slowly tightened his grip, offering a smile to the terrified Wu Du.
“Yuan Ji might not know, but you must.”
“Who is that ‘father’ of yours who died early?”
Wu Du, frightened to the point of tears, stood rigidly and stammered out a reply.
Then, Qi Guan Shang’s expression turned odd and thoughtful. He dropped Wu Du right there and turned to leave.
——-
At dawn the next day, as Ye Wen Shu was stealthily delivering the River God statues he had carved overnight to various sects, he spotted a familiar figure inside the River God Temple.
Instantly, the statues in his hands clattered to the ground, and he trembled all over.
“A ghost! A ghost!”
His shout woke everyone from their sleep. People stumbled out, only to freeze on the spot upon seeing the figure in the courtyard.
“A ghost! A ghost!”
There, beneath the plum tree in the courtyard, stood a tall, slender figure dressed in a moon-white robe—Qi Yan, who was supposed to be “dead.” He slowly turned around.
His brow was slightly furrowed, and in his hands, he held a plate of freshly made White Jade Cakes.
Their delicate fragrance filled the air.
Immediately, a rumor spread throughout the world.
It is said that when the River God decided to find a stepfather for her child, Cultivator Qi Yan was so furious that he came back to life!
