ABFC | Chapter 28: I Just Admire the Demon Lord

 

The plum tree was a little old, but it still bloomed enthusiastically.

Thousands of flower branches were crowded with cinnabar-like red, some buds, some in full bloom.

A thin layer of snow had accumulated on the countless delicate petals, bending the branches down heavily, making them droop low.

Amidst the faint, cold fragrance, two figures, one in black and the other in blue, stood side by side. Their expressions varied, and the scene seemed momentarily silent for a while.

Suddenly, the plum branch shook, dropping a small cluster of snow, which, carrying a subtle fragrance, fell directly onto the back of the girl’s neck.

Wen Ruan let out a soft “hiss”, shivering from the sudden chill. She almost jumped up, but restrained herself, holding back simply because the situation was inappropriate.

She quickly gathered her thoughts in her mind and was about to speak, when her gaze unintentionally lingered on the man’s pale, paper-like lips.

In addition to the plum fragrance, there was a faint, almost imperceptible scent of rust in the air, which involuntarily made one think of a certain liquid, as vivid as the plum blossoms themselves.

“Is your injury not healed yet?” Wen Ruan couldn’t help but furrow her brows, and the words in her mouth subconsciously changed.

“Why does it look even worse?”

Mu Zhe leaned casually against the tree, letting out a careless “hmph” sound. His voice was somewhat hoarse, matching the paleness of his face with a hollow, detached tone.

“I won’t die.”

“……”

Wen Ruan sighed. “How can you be like this? Life is already hard enough, and if you keep having these ailments and pain, it’ll only make it even harder to live.”

“I’m not human,” he said, the corner of his lips briefly curling into a smile. “I’m a demon.”

You really have to nitpick over words?

Wen Ruan crouched down, angrily opening the food box without raising her head, “So what if you’re a demon?

“You’re still bleeding when you’re injured. In this regard, you’re not even as good as our human race.”

Mu Zhe was taken aback for a moment, then heard her continue:

“At least most of us humans value our lives and know how to properly treat our wounds.”

She picked up a plate of neatly stacked pastries, stood up with a fierce expression, and handed it to him.

“I didn’t bring any medicine, but luckily I made date paste cakes this morning. They can at least help replenish some of your energy and blood.”

“Though for you, its effect is probably just a comfort to your mind.”

The rich scent of dates suddenly filled his nose, and amidst the faint cold fragrance of the plum blossoms, it seemed especially sweet and cloying.

The faint, false smile in Mu Zhe’s eyes vanished completely, and the corners of his lips slowly tightened into a straight line.

The pastry was very simple, a small square with no extra decorations. Its color was a dull red, yet it seemed to be even more eye-catching than the crimson plum blossoms above his head.

“Eat quickly.”

The girl’s crisp voice came from just a few inches away, carrying a hint of urgency.

“Once you’re done, show me your wound. By the way, have you used any medicine? Both the oral and the topical treatments; have you used them all?”

He was silent for a moment before finally speaking. “Not yet.”

“….?!”

No way, is he trying to challenge the limits of medical science here?

Wen Ruan looked at him in horror, unable to stop herself from raising her voice.

“No wonder your face looks like wall putty! You’re not taking care of such a deep wound?!”

“Wait a minute, your wound isn’t rotting, is it?! Ah! This is insane!”

As she said that, she quickly stuffed the delicate porcelain plate into his hands and rushed to grab at his outer garment.

Mu Zhe grabbed her slender wrist with one hand, with a smile that was neither a smile nor a sneer on his face, “Are you showing concern for me?”

Wen Ruan impatiently swatted his hand away, rubbing her wrist as she calmed herself down a bit.

“If it weren’t for the fact that you saved my life, I wouldn’t even bother with you.”

The girl’s delicate skin reddened instantly where he had grabbed her wrist, the mark glaringly bright, almost dazzling.

He rubbed the edge of the porcelain plate with his fingertips unconsciously, and turned his eyes away. His tone was harsh as he said, “I don’t need you to meddle in my business.”

“……”

Hearing his words, Wen Ruan suddenly calmed down. She thought for a moment, then took two steps back, slightly furrowed her brows.

“Indeed, I was meddling in your business. I’m sorry.”

They didn’t know each other well, and their interactions were scant at best.

If it weren’t for that night in Ghost Maple Forest, she probably would have avoided him as much as possible, even walking along the wall to stay as far away as she could.

What’s more, she was standing side by side with him and chatting.

Calling their relationship “friends” would be even a bit forced.

It was true she had crossed the line just now. No matter how anxious she was, she couldn’t take off someone’s clothes.

Moreover, her current position was awkward. If anyone with bad intentions saw her, there would be no way to clear her name, even if she jumped into the Yellow River.

Sensing the distance in her words, a fleeting sense of restlessness passed through Mu Zhe’s mind, though he couldn’t quite understand where it came from.

He stared at the pastry in his hand and suddenly asked, “Why are you here?”

She should have known about his departure from the Demon Realm yesterday, and she should be staying peacefully in Canglang Pavilion at this moment.

Why would she still be carrying a food box and heading out today?

From the direction she came, it seemed to be the direction of the Wuxiu Pavilion.

What was she going there for?

This question was undeniably lethal.

The man’s gaze was too intense, almost aggressive. Wen Ruan swallowed nervously, desperately fighting the urge to turn and flee. But she forced herself to hold his gaze.

After all this time, the big shot finally questioned why the once-innocent rookie from the Immortal Cultivation Realm, who had recently been killing monsters with him, was now appearing in the Demon Realm, their sworn enemy’s territory.

Stay calm, don’t panic.

But it was impossible to not panic.

She spread her hands, shrugged her shoulders, and spoke as casually as she could, “I married the Demon Lord. I’m his wife now.”

Hearing this, the man’s eyes flickered, and he let out a faint “Oh”, stretching it a little.

She couldn’t quite decipher the exact emotion in his expression, so she silently cursed in her mind. But on the surface, she forced a smile and continued:

“I have admired him for a long time, but the Immortal Cultivation Realm and the Demon Realm have always been at odds. In order to stay by his side, I had no choice but to disguise myself as a mortal.”

“Fortunately, I’ve finally gotten what I wanted. Aren’t you going to congratulate me?”

Mu Zhe tugged at the corner of his mouth, his words lacking any sincerity. “Well, congratulations then.”

“Haha.” She gave a dry laugh and subtly changed the subject without leaving a trace, “You’re here to see the Lord, right? He’s gone out of Demon Realm and won’t be back for at least half a month.”

His gaze sharpened slightly, “You know he’s gone, so why are you still going to Wuxiu Pavilion to look for him?”

She vaguely sensed something was off but had no time to think it through. She sighed helplessly.

“I know he’s not there, I just…” Her eyes slightly reddened. “I miss him too much.”

Mu Zhe’s body stiffened.

Wen Ruan continued:

“He is my husband, and also the Lord of the Demon Realm. Every day, there are countless matters waiting for him to deal with, one after another, each more important than me.”

“But if I stay quietly in one place, as long as he turns around, he’ll definitely see me.”

“He’ll know that in this world, there is someone like me, who thinks of him constantly, with nothing in my heart but him.”

She finished speaking in one breath and secretly gave herself a thumbs-up in her mind.

As expected of you, Cutie Wen Ruan, you even remembered such a long speech.

Mu Zhe’s dark eyes flickered slightly, his voice a bit hoarse. He asked slowly, “You really like him that much?”

“Of course!” She immediately replied, straightening her back, placing her hands on her hips, her words coming out quickly and urgently.

“If I didn’t like him, why would I leave my sect and come all the way to this desolate Demon Realm?”

“Why would I go through so much trouble every day to cook for him?”

“Why do I even see him in my dreams?”

“And also, do I look like I have nothing better to do? I know full well he’s not here, yet I still come to his place to wander around.”

Her words came out like beans from a bamboo tube, rattling down quickly.

By the end, she had a look of grievance on her face, wiping her eyes with force.

“I know what you’re thinking.”

“I’m from the Immortal Cultivation Realm. Since ancient times, the righteous and the demonic cultivators have never coexisted. You must think I’m getting close to the Demon Lord with some ulterior motive.”

“But I really just want to be with him properly. If you don’t believe me, I can swear to the Heavenly Dao!”

For cultivators, a vow to the Heavenly Dao must never be made lightly. If one’s actions go against the vow—

The Heavenly Dao is merciless, and would immediately cause her soul to scatter, leaving nothing behind.

Mu Zhe fell silent for a moment, watching the fluffy white snowflakes drifting down from the sky. Suddenly, he sneered, his lips curling into a half-smile.

“What’s so good about him? He killed his mother the moment he was born. He’s lived for over three hundred years, despised by both gods and demons, and become someone everyone wants dead.”

“The world hates him to the core, and even the Heavenly Dao has abandoned him. What is there about such a person that’s worth your affection?”

His tone was clearly mocking, yet it carried an inexplicable weight, making her heart tighten.

“He deserves it.”