Demon Tribe
Yan Chiwu was holding a writing brush with the grip of a spear, writing away, only to throw both the paper and the brush onto the ground a moment later.
He sighed helplessly, "Damn it! What is to be done? I am terrible at zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting—all the things Ji Heng loves—and I cannot learn them in a short time. Even if I master them by the time Ji Heng marries Donghua, it will be too late..." Although Demon Lord Xuyang had rejected him last time, he had not given up on Ji Heng. He was still plotting how to snatch Ji Heng back from Donghua.
At that moment, Yan Chiwu's maid stepped forward to report, "Demon Lord, the meal has been ready for a long time."
Yan Chiwu said, "I'm not eating, I'm busy!"
The maid asked, "Shall this servant bring it to you? The back kitchen made braised demonic beast especially for you today."
Yan Chiwu suddenly grew excited. Braised demonic beast! His absolute favorite!
Yan Chiwu said, "Braised demonic beast! ...Such an unrefined dish, how could Ji Heng possibly like it? Tell the back kitchen not to make it anymore." Yan Chiwu's appetite had been instantly piqued the moment he heard about the braised demonic beast, and he was just about to have it served. But then he remembered Ji Heng did not like it, so he resolutely gave up the idea.
Yan Chiwu added, "And another thing, if I cannot marry Ji Heng, I'll have all of you braised instead!" With that, he waved the maid away.
Hearing that he intended to have them braised, the maid looked terrified, quickly bowed, and withdrew.
Yan Chiwu was still pondering how to win Ji Heng back from Donghua when he suddenly seemed to reach a decision. "Screw it! We of the Demon Tribe revere strength. I will beat Donghua first and put a stop to their wedding. Once I defeat Donghua in a manner that stuns the Four Seas and Eight Desolates, surely Ji Heng will look upon me with greater respect. When that time comes, I will go propose marriage. How could it possibly fail?" Yan Chiwu happily plotted away. For Ji Heng's sake, he was once again willing to settle his mind and pick up the writing brush to practice calligraphy.
Elsewhere, Ji Heng was gently swinging on a swing in the back garden, accompanied by Min Su. Ji Heng's thoughts were dwelling on Demon Lord Xuyang's declaration that she was to be married to Donghua. While Ji Heng admired Donghua, she did not love him; the person in her heart was right beside her, and she had no wish to marry Donghua.
Ji Heng asked, "Min Su, do you remember when we used to play in this grove as children?"
Recalling those happy memories of their youth, Min Su replied, "Yes."
Ji Heng continued, "As a Princess of the Demon Tribe, I had countless lessons to study every day and always tried to slack off. Out of all the demon generals, only you dared to accompany me here to play, and because of that, you often suffered punishment from my older brother."
Min Su said, "It was only in this grove that the Princess would laugh so heartily. As long as the Princess is happy, what does it matter if Min Su suffers a tiny punishment?"
The two of them were essentially talking at cross-purposes, each lost in their own thoughts. Hearing this, Ji Heng took it as a man willingly enduring hardship and punishment just to bring joy to the woman he loved. Meanwhile, Min Su, knowing herself to be a woman and operating from a mindset of woman helping woman, was thinking that as long as her friend could be truly happy, suffering a few reprimands was nothing at all.
Delighted by Min Su's words, Ji Heng quietly slid her hand closer and clasped Min Su's. This gesture set Min Su's mind racing. Ever since Demon Lord Xuyang had spoken of marrying Ji Heng to Donghua, Ji Heng's ambiguous gestures toward her had grown increasingly blatant. Realizing that Ji Heng did not know her true female identity, she had a sinking feeling that something was amiss.
At that very moment, Demon Lord Xuyang was hiding behind a tree, quietly watching the scene unfold, and he was furious. He had seen Ji Heng take Min Su's hand. As an older brother, he naturally knew what was in Ji Heng's heart: Ji Heng was fond of Min Su, which was why she refused to marry Donghua. Yet he also knew that Min Su was actually a woman, meaning that Ji Heng and Min Su were utterly impossible together, regardless of status or gender. Yet Xuyang failed to see his own heart; his blinding rage stemmed from the fact that he harbored feelings for Min Su himself. Seeing Min Su so intimate with Ji Heng, he was simply consumed by jealousy, which accounted for his fury.
Ji Heng said, "I only wish to be with you."
This was the first time Ji Heng had explicitly bared her feelings to Min Su. Min Su's suspicions were confirmed, but she had no way to tell Ji Heng she was a woman. She could only endure in silence, allowing Ji Heng to rest her head against their intertwined hands.
Meanwhile, the document Yan Chiwu had settled his mind to write with the writing brush was actually a challenge. Indeed, it was written after he had figured out how to defeat Donghua. Finishing it, Yan Chiwu happily put down the brush and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Xuan Yue!"
Xuan Yue immediately walked in and reported, "Greetings, Demon Lord."
Yan Chiwu happily folded the challenge and tossed the piece of parchment at Xuan Yue, saying, "Find someone reliable and deliver this challenge to the Nine Heavens."
Xuan Yue suggested, "If we are talking about close ties, Highness Zilan of Kunlun Xu..."
Yan Chiwu snapped, "Shut your mouth! I told you long ago never to mention that disgraceful twin brother of mine again. Of all the places to go study the arts, he had to go to Kunlun Xu. Is there no one in our Demon Tribe who can fight?!"
Indeed, Zilan, the sixteenth disciple under Moyuan of Kunlun Xu, was Yan Chiwu's brother. Anyone who had seen the two of them would notice a striking resemblance.
Seeing Yan Chiwu's absolute firmness, Xuan Yue quickly offered an alternative, "Then this subordinate will seek out Grandmother Doumu."
Yan Chiwu said, "Yes, make sure she delivers it to the Nine Heavens in person."
Xuan Yue said, "Understood!"
Yan Chiwu waved his hand, and Xuan Yue withdrew to carry out the task. With official business concluded, Yan Chiwu remembered the plate of braised demonic beast and slapped his head in vexation and regret. For Ji Heng's sake, he truly had sacrificed a lot, sigh! But to win Ji Heng's affections, he supposed he could accept it!