After Marrying the Disabled Demon Lord as a Substitute, I Ran Away with His Child - Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Feixian City was exceptionally lively today. The streets were swarming with people, many of whom were quickening their pace toward the “Black Shop.”

A Golden Core stage sword cultivator, seeing everyone so agitated, was bewildered. He curiously asked someone nearby, “Where are they all going?”

The person beside him smiled and said, “To the Black Shop to buy spiritual pills!”

The sword cultivator knew of the Black Shop. “The Black Shop is the largest store in Feixian City, I know that. But is there some special treasure on sale today?”

The man replied, “It seems you don’t come to Feixian City often. Lately, the best-selling items in the Black Shop are the spiritual pills from Master Siqiu.”

“The pills refined by Master Siqiu are very powerful. Not only do they come in many flavors, but the price is also very reasonable. If you don’t run fast, how can you grab any? Luckily, I hoarded all the pills I needed yesterday, otherwise, I’d be panicking like them today.”

The sword cultivator was utterly confused. “Spiritual pills have ‘many flavors’? Pills aren’t food; why would they be distinguished by taste? Besides, I’ve never heard the name ‘Master Siqiu.’ Are the pills she refines truly that special?”

The man nodded sincerely. “They are truly special. This time, there are not only various ingestible pills but also offensive pills like the ‘Explosive Boar Pill.’ Isn’t that worth scrambling for?”

The sword cultivator was even more baffled. Since ancient times, pills were meant to be eaten; why refine offensive ones? If one needed an offensive Dharma weapon, one would go straight to a weapon cultivator.

He walked toward the Black Shop, unconcerned. “I’ll see for myself what’s so good about these pills. Anyway, I was going to the Black Shop to buy Master Zhian’s pills, so I’ll just watch the excitement along the way.”

“However, I heard Master Zhian’s pills are exceptionally famous. I wonder if I can buy any this time.”

…

When he reached the Black Shop, he actually saw many people standing in a queue. In the cultivation world, the phenomenon of queuing almost never occurred, which made him feel curious and surprised. Regardless of what was being sold, if people were queuing, there must be good stuff, so he joined the end of the line.

Just as he stood still, two or three more cultivators immediately lined up behind him. He turned and asked them, “What are you queuing for? Is it for Master Zhian’s pills?”

One cultivator said, “Of course not. Who in Feixian City still buys Master Zhian’s pills? You must not be a disciple from a sect near Feixian City, right? Master Zhian’s pills should still have plenty of stock in the shop; you can go buy them directly without queuing here. If you need a lot, you can buy extra to hoard; Master Zhian won’t be consigning pills here in the future.”

He was surprised. “Why is that? Since she won’t be consigning pills anymore, why aren’t people scrambling for them?”

The cultivator’s face turned indignant. “Master Zhian’s father has kidnapped many female cultivators over the years to keep as ‘cauldrons.’ So from now on, not just Master Zhian—even if Immortal Venerable Bimu kept his life this time no one will buy his pills anymore.”

“What’s the difference between someone like Immortal Venerable Bimu and those from the Demonic Cult? Even if he produces pills again in the future, not many will buy them. Who knows if he’ll put some mess in the pills to retaliate against the cultivation world?”

The sword cultivator hadn’t expected such a thing to happen to Bixia Sect, such a large alchemy sect. He decided he must quickly hoard Master Zhian’s pills. He wouldn’t dare buy pills produced by Zhian or Bimu in the future, but the ones already consigned in the shop should be fine. It was best to stock up.

Since the queue wasn’t for Zhian’s pills, he left the line and walked straight into the shop. Inside, a cultivator was selling pills to those in the queue, and there was a sign on the counter: Limit of 3 pills of each type per person.

This truly felt bizarre to the sword cultivator. But no matter how bizarre, these weren’t the pills he needed. He walked up to another shop assistant and said, “Do you have Master Zhian’s pills? I want to buy fifty Golden Essence Pills.”

At the same time, a cultivator in the queue next to him said, “I want three Golden Essence Pills the ‘Sorrowful Fragrance Flower’ flavor and three Explosive Boar Pills.”

The clerk took out a pill bottle and poured out three Golden Essence Pills. “Look closely, fellow cultivator, these are three Golden Essence Pills with the flavor of the Sorrowful Fragrance Flower. I’ll pack them for you now.”

The moment the pills were poured out, the sword cultivator’s pupils dilated. He stared fixedly at the three pills. What is this? Why does the scent from these pills make one so calm, even causing one to fall into deep thought about one’s own shortcomings?

He remembered the Sorrowful Fragrance Flower was a spiritual herb that could make people depressed, trapped in self-doubt all day. How could such a poisonous weed be added to a Golden Essence Pill?

He took a step forward and grabbed the cultivator’s hand. “Why are you buying this kind of pill? Can a recipe be changed so casually? If other materials are added to a Golden Essence Pill, can it still be a Golden Essence Pill? Besides, the Sorrowful Fragrance Flower is a poisonous weed; why buy a Golden Essence Pill tainted with poison?”

The cultivator shook off his hand. “You don’t understand. You must be from out of town, right?”

“All the sects near Feixian City know that although the Sorrowful Fragrance Flower is toxic and causes depression, Master Siqiu says the content in the Golden Essence Pill is extremely low. It won’t cause depression; instead, after consuming it, one will go into seclusion to reflect and humbly seek out one’s own flaws.”

“This pill is most suitable for an exceptionally confident cultivator like me. Before I ate the Sorrowful Fragrance Golden Essence Pill, I always thought I was the number one talent in the cultivation world. After eating it, I discovered my own shortcomings. Now that I’ve mended them, my cultivation has progressed greatly!”

The sword cultivator listened to this person as if he were a storyteller in a teahouse. Meanwhile, the shop assistant in front of him took out the Golden Essence Pills made by Master Zhian. The assistant poured them out for him to inspect.

He immediately noticed that Master Zhian’s pills were not as potent as the Sorrowful Fragrance version next to them. He was somewhat angry. “Are you trying to trick me, an outsider, with inferior pills? Why do the pills over there look better than these? I am not a cultivator who doesn’t know his pills.”

The clerk immediately said, “How could we dare trick you? The Black Shop always does business uprightly. That person over there is buying Master Siqiu’s pills. You might not know, but anything Master Siqiu produces is bound to be ‘Supreme Grade.’ The one in my hand is a ‘High Grade’ Golden Essence Pill, while the one over there is ‘Supreme Grade.’ How can they be compared?”

While they spoke, the person next to him took his pills and left. The person behind him immediately came forward to ask the clerk, buying quite a few pills and lamenting that they could only buy three of each.

Sword Cultivator: I suddenly feel like I’ve lost a hundred million top-grade spirit stones.

After paying for Master Zhian’s pills, he immediately ran back outside the shop to rejoin the queue. However, he found that behind the spot he had just left, hundreds more people had joined the line. He could almost hear his heart breaking as he ran.

What on earth did I miss just now? Is it still in time to queue up? Can I still buy a Supreme Grade Golden Essence Pill?

While queuing, the sword cultivator received a low-quality jade slip. Though low-quality, it was enough to introduce the pills. The pills introduced were exactly the ones refined by Master Siqiu. He finally realized that this cultivator named Master Siqiu was extremely bold in her refining—she dared to add anything to a pill!

But those pills with additional herbs looked so tempting in their side effects! However, he could only buy three Golden Essence Pills; which flavor should he choose?

Finally, it was his turn. The clerk: “Oh, what a shame, they’re all sold out. The last Explosive Boar Pill was bought by the customer right in front of you. But we can take a pre-order registration now. Do you want to pre-order?” The sword cultivator paid the deposit with tears in his eyes.

Leaving the Black Shop, he was full of melancholy. “I was once too arrogant, not knowing the world is full of geniuses. I missed the first Supreme Grade Golden Essence Pill of my life. I have truly failed myself; I deserve a thousand deaths!”

The person behind him, who also just left the shop, heard this and cried even more bitterly. “It’s so sad not to have grabbed any pills, waahhh…”

Their lamentations were overheard by two extremely ordinary-looking cultivators who glanced at them and then left discreetly. Only when they reached a deserted place did they shed their disguises. These two were actually Bi Zhian and her Second Senior Brother.

Bi Zhian’s eyes were like autumn water. “Second Senior Brother, all the cultivators in Feixian City are buying Junior Sister’s pills. Our Bixia Sect doesn’t have a single talent who can compare to her. Compared to her, I am nothing at all.”

The Second Senior Brother looked sinister. He stepped forward and put his arm around Bi Zhian. “Sister, do not belittle yourself. Zuo Siqiu changes recipes so recklessly; sooner or later, she will kill someone.”

Bi Zhian looked up at him. “Really? But those cultivators say her pills are much better than anyone else’s. How could they kill someone?”

The Second Senior Brother said, “If I say her pills will kill someone, they will one day. Just as I once said you wouldn’t marry the Demon Lord—and the person who married was indeed not you.” Bi Zhian lowered her eyes.

After a moment, she asked again, “How is my father now? Will the Long family heal his injuries? Can he recover his former cultivation?”

In a place Bi Zhian couldn’t see, a haze flashed in the Second Senior Brother’s eyes, his killing intent barely concealed. However, his voice remained gentle. “Of course. The Master is your father; I will surely entreat the Long family to do their best to save him.”

…

Inside the Xuanyun Sect, Zuo Siqiu sat at the entrance of Xuan Mo’s cave dwelling holding a large rooster. Sitting beside her was Yan Jiaojiao.

Yan Jiaojiao leaned in and whispered, “Is the Venerable One still doubting himself?” Zuo Siqiu nodded guiltily. “But he’s a bit better today than the last two days.”

Yan Jiaojiao felt a chill thinking about the last two days. During that time, their Venerable One had looked at her expressionlessly and said, “A useless person like this seat should just die, right?” “As a cultivator, yet unable to move hands or feet, confined to a wheelchair all day, living worse than an ordinary mortal—what is the point of living like this?” “Is there anyone in the Xuanyun Sect who is truly happy? We are just a group of pitiful people gathered here. It would be better to die with this seat and resolve the greatest hidden danger in the cultivation world.”

Hearing these words, the sect members had fled the vicinity, fearing the Sect Leader would take them down with him in a fit of depression. It was only the brave Yan Jiaojiao who sought out the Madam to ask why the Leader had become like this.

Zuo Siqiu held the rooster, feeling exceptionally guilty. “I… researched a new spiritual pill. Based on the Golden Essence Pill, I added the Sorrowful Fragrance Flower so that cultivators can reflect on themselves and find their flaws after taking it.”

Yan Jiaojiao’s head was full of question marks. “What does that have to do with the Venerable One’s current state?” Zuo Siqiu: “I didn’t manage the dosage for the first experimental pill well. I put in a whole flower.” Yan Jiaojiao: “Uh… and the first pill is now…” Zuo Siqiu: “In the Venerable One’s stomach.” Yan Jiaojiao: “…”

Zuo Siqiu explained tearfully, “I really didn’t mean to give him that one! I took the wrong one by accident. He said that one had the strongest aroma and asked if I was hiding it because I didn’t want to give it to him. I didn’t know the effect would be so powerful. I thought, for his cultivation level, a Golden Essence Pill is like a piece of candy; eating it shouldn’t be a problem, so I gave it to him.” Yan Jiaojiao: “…”

In short, today was the third day, and Xuan Mo’s state was much better than before, though the look he gave Zuo Siqiu was full of killing intent. To think he, the great Demon Lord, had ever been so embarrassing as he had been these last few days?

The sound of a wheelchair came from behind them. Yan Jiaojiao immediately stood up. “Oh, I forgot, I still have sect business to handle!” Zuo Siqiu reached out to stop her. “Didn’t you say we were best sisters?” But she couldn’t even touch the hem of Yan Jiaojiao’s dress.

She stood up tremblingly, holding the rooster, and turned to look at Xuan Mo. Her voice was soft and timid. “Venerable One… Do you feel okay now?” Xuan Mo gave a cold sneer, his gaze falling on Zuo Siqiu like a blade.

Zuo Siqiu saw that he had returned to his normal self. “Venerable One, have you recovered?” Xuan Mo: “If you ever dare to wave those messy pills in front of this seat again, this seat will throw you directly into the furnace to refine you into a pill!”

Zuo Siqiu felt very wronged. You were the one who insisted on eating that pill, saying I was hiding it from you. She furrowed her small brows and looked at Xuan Mo. Her gaze fell on his well-shaped lips and suddenly noticed they were a bit more ruddy than when she first met him. Lips like these looked much easier to kiss than when she first saw them.

Zuo Siqiu: “?” Before she could figure out why she had such a thought, Xuan Mo coughed lightly. “Why do you keep staring at this seat’s mouth?” Zuo Siqiu immediately looked away. “I’m not, I was just spacing out.”

A faint, indiscernible emotion flashed in Xuan Mo’s eyes. “Do you know that while you were in seclusion, your sister came to find you?” Zuo Siqiu: “???” “Why did no one tell me?”

Xuan Mo: “It wasn’t a big deal. She just came to see you. When she heard from the sect members that we were living in harmony and very much in love, she said she’d come back later.”

Zuo Siqiu understood her sister well. She figured her sister was like many parents in her previous life, exceptionally worried about their children. Some parents urged marriage because of gossip; others did so hoping their child would find a good person to spend their life with. Zuo Mudong likely hoped she would find a good man to spend her life with.

But clearly, Xuan Mo’s persona in this book did not fit the “good man” setting. However, Zuo Siqiu felt quite comfortable in the Xuanyun Sect now. Although everyone called it a demonic cult, according to her understanding, they hadn’t actually done anything heinous. It was just that at its founding, it was opposed by the righteous path due to ideological differences, leading to several battles. In the days since, they often refused to give face to the righteous sects, leading to their poor reputation. This was also why the Black Shop had never revealed its boss—if everyone knew it was Xuan Mo’s shop, who would go there to buy things?

In short, she felt very comfortable staying in the Xuanyun Sect, so she wanted to stay until Xuan Mo met his true love and wanted to dissolve their partnership.

Xuan Mo: “What are you daydreaming about again?” Zuo Siqiu snapped back. “I’m not daydreaming!” Xuan Mo sneered. “Your face is covered in ‘daydreaming.’ If there’s something you don’t like, either destroy it or ignore it; why keep thinking about it?”

Zuo Siqiu felt guilty. “…I wasn’t thinking about anything I don’t like.” Xuan Mo didn’t argue further. “Have you ever thought about how you’ll act with me the next time your sister visits?” Zuo Siqiu: “?” After a moment, she realized. “You mean, because Sister hasn’t seen us being affectionate with her own eyes, she’s worried?” Xuan Mo’s face said, You’re not too stupid.

Zuo Siqiu was indignant. “I’m very good at this, okay? Back then, I built our persona as a loving couple all by myself!” “Now my alchemy skills are even better. I got some bizarre recipes from Bimu’s place. One of them is called the ‘Void Pill.’ It’s a powerful supplement, but after taking it, one will appear to have ‘kidney deficiency’ and exhaustion. Venerable One, do you want to try it?”

Xuan Mo’s face turned black. He turned around in anger and returned to his cave, slamming the door shut with a bang. Zuo Siqiu looked at his back and gave a triumphant smile. I still have you under my thumb! She didn’t have any “Void Pill” recipe; the Venerable One was so silly, believing everything she said.

A moment later, she sat back on the threshold of the cave, resting her chin in her hands and watching the rooster chase a grasshopper, but her mind drifted to Xuan Mo’s handsome face. He truly was good-looking. Before, she was too scared to look; now that she spent more time with him and wasn’t afraid, she realized looking at him was a form of enjoyment.

Perhaps she thought too much during the day, because at night, lying in bed with Xuan Mo, Zuo Siqiu felt her heart pounding in her chest, unable to settle. When she closed her eyes, her mind was full of Xuan Mo’s face, preventing her from sleeping.

The two lay there with eyes closed for half an hour. Finally, Xuan Mo couldn’t help but speak: “You’re so noisy.” Zuo Siqiu opened her eyes and looked at his straight nose and slightly trembling long eyelashes. Her head was full of question marks—how was she noisy? She hadn’t said a word. In the end, she took a sleeping pill and finally closed her eyes to sleep.

Yet, Xuan Mo appeared in her dreams, disturbing her thoughts. That slightly pink mouth whispered in her ear: “Did you want to kiss me today?” Zuo Siqiu felt her heart racing, so shy she wanted to find a place to hide. Xuan Mo gave a light chuckle in her ear: “This seat permits it.”

The immobile Xuan Mo lying on the bed suddenly opened his eyes. Zuo Siqiu, who climbed onto him almost every night to sleep, was currently using her lips to gently rub against his chin.

Xuan Mo’s eyes narrowed slightly. Could it be that the pill’s toxin hasn’t fully dissipated yet?