Chapter 67: The Demon King Whose Love Knows No Regret

"More than three thousand years have passed, yet Purple Lotus Immortal Lord's sharp tongue remains as vicious as ever," the man in the peach-blossom robe laughed, unable to restrain himself. He was answered with a cool glance from the silver-haired man in white standing beside him.

"I have not changed," Purple Lotus replied indifferently. "But the Demon King has changed considerably."

The silver-haired man let out a soft chuckle and pulled the woman in pink standing next to him into his arms. "Indeed," he said with a smile. "Over a hundred years ago, I took a wife and had a child. Now, I am no longer the Demon King I was three thousand years ago."

Demon King? My heart skipped a beat. This white-robed, silver-haired man, the one who waited five thousand years for love, was Lu Xueche, the very protagonist of my little Zha’s “Drunken Dreams in Celestial Rain.” That meant the woman in pink by his side could only be Li Ruoshui, the one who crossed worlds to be with him.

The two of them, so devoted to one another, stood before us all, their affection clear in every glance and gesture, yet they seemed entirely at ease, their mutual tenderness flowing unrestrained.

Purple Lotus spoke again. "Earlier, I heard High God Gu Mo mention that the Demon King of the demon realm, for the sake of a mortal woman, not only lost his throne but also misplaced the Celestial Spirit Stone left behind by the previous Demon King. At the time, I thought High God Gu Mo was telling a jest and did not take it to heart. Yet now, seeing you here, I realize that rumor was no mere tale. The current Demon King, not only has he married a mortal woman, but now lives among mortals like an immortal couple."

"Indeed," the Demon King replied, drawing Li Ruoshui closer. "Days like those of immortal lovers. I now truly envy the mandarin ducks, not the immortals."

At that moment, the man in the peach-blossom robe, who had slipped away unnoticed, returned, tugging along a plump little boy with a head of silver hair. With a slight bow and both hands pinching the child’s chubby cheeks, he commanded in a coaxing yet threatening tone, "Maodou, quickly greet your uncle."

"Uncle, Immortal Lord Uncle," the boy piped up sweetly, his soft, milky voice ringing out. He lifted his cherubic face, a bright smile blooming upon it, and his eyes, clear as limpid water, seemed as if they might overflow with tears at any moment.

At these words, the man in the peach-blossom robe’s expression darkened instantly, his handsome brows furrowing in vexation. He reached out, intent on pinching the boy’s cheeks again, but Li Ruoshui swiftly swept the child into her arms, out of his reach.

"Gu Qingcheng, if you dare bully my son again, I’ll sweep you out of the Beauty Pavilion with a broom and never let you step foot in here again, you fallen immortal!"

Li Ruoshui’s words were sharp and commanding, brimming with authority. Yet Gu Qingcheng seemed utterly unfazed, his gaze still fixed intently on the silver-haired child.

"Since I am in the mood for reunion with old friends, I won’t quibble over these few words with you, little lass," Gu Qingcheng declared, snapping open his folding fan to half-obscure his enchanting face. "But even if you forbid me from coming to this Beauty Pavilion, I’ll still show up every day. I’d like to see how a slip of a girl like you—without even a few pounds on you—plans to toss me out."

He fanned himself with a devil-may-care grin.

"You—you—you..." Li Ruoshui was so incensed she could barely speak, her fists clenched tightly as if she might fly at Gu Qingcheng at any moment. Fortunately, the Demon King reached over in time to take her hand, his face gentle as he coaxed her softly, "Ruoruo, that’s enough. Don’t be upset. You’ve known him for a hundred years now—surely you understand his temperament? Come now, don’t get angry. Take Maodou to the kitchen and see how much longer till we can eat."

"Fine," she huffed, glaring fiercely at Gu Qingcheng before reluctantly taking Maodou’s hand and leading him into the back courtyard.

Gu Qingcheng could not help but laugh, turning to the Demon King with a teasing tone. "Your little wife has quite the temper. I truly don’t understand what you saw in her, to give up so much for her sake. Now you even worship her at home like a goddess. Hardly a fair exchange, if you ask me!"

The Demon King merely smiled. "Whether it’s fair or not, I think only those involved can truly say. Ruoruo may be quick-tempered, but she’s good in every other way. She is kind-hearted—and most importantly, she never minded that I am a demon."

As he spoke, a gentle smile played on his lips, and his eyes, clear as a mountain spring, overflowed with deep affection.