After Marrying the Disabled Demon Lord as a Substitute, I Ran Away with His Child - Chapter 43

Chapter 43

Zhu Jiechou let out a cold, mocking smirk at Bi Zhian’s words.

He hadn’t expected his Third Senior Sister to shift the blame for the “forced marriage” entirely onto him, making him the scapegoat for Little Junior Sister’s plight. He cursed his past naivety; he had been deceived by her, which led to Zuo Siqiu falling into her current situation.

However, now was not the time to argue. He needed to coax Bi Zhian into marrying Xuan Mo to create an opportunity for Zuo Siqiu to escape.

“Junior Sister is indeed the most kind-hearted cultivator in this world, willing to sacrifice herself for Master,” he said smoothly.

Bi Zhian lowered her eyes and asked, “But as you know, Brother Xuan Mo is currently obsessed with Little Junior Sister. How could I possibly catch his eye?”

Zhu Jiechou thought of a bottle of pills in his master’s storage artifact. Those pills could cause a Fire-Root cultivator to release an aura that was irresistibly attractive to Ice-Root cultivators. He didn’t know if Bi Zhian had used them before, but from what he knew, she and Xuan Mo had barely spent any time together. Even in the secret realm, they hadn’t met face-to-face.

He planned to have her take the pill and then manufacture opportunities for them to meet. These materials were rare; he hoped Bi Zhian would be competent enough to grab Xuan Mo’s attention.

…

In the spirit vein space of the Xuan Cloud Sect, Xuan Mo opened his eyes.

Cold sweat drenched his forehead and soaked through his robes. His eyes remained as icy as ever, though they now flickered with a raw, bloodthirsty killing intent. However, unlike before, he slowly raised his right hand.

His fingers were long and slender, his skin pale. As he made a fist, veins pulsed across the back of his hand with a graceful yet powerful curve. He turned his wrist, examining the hand that could finally move, and a smile touched his lips, a smile full of aggression and possessiveness.

“Zuo Siqiu, I truly owe you much this time.”

With a wave of his hand, his robes instantly transformed into pure black. He stood up and, under the shocked gaze of the Demon Physician, stepped forward.

The Demon Physician had watched Xuan Mo’s transformation, seeing him endure agony time and again. He had feared Xuan Mo wouldn’t survive and would succumb to qi deviation. But Xuan Mo had done it; he had integrated the Divine Dragon Blood. His physical body had undergone a rebirth and was now fully capable of sustaining his supreme Ice Spirit Root.

The Demon Physician couldn’t help but weep. He had spent so much effort on Xuan Mo but had never been able to “save” him. Now, he finally saw the day Xuan Mo could walk.

Xuan Mo appeared calm, nodding slightly. “Let us go out. The others must be waiting anxiously.”

Xuan Mo’s emergence was a monumental event for the sect. Everyone knew he had gone into seclusion with the dragon blood, and while they didn’t know what the result would be, they were filled with anticipation.

“I just hope the Venerable One can stand up,” Yan Jiaojiao said, linking arms with Zuo Siqiu. “Don’t be fooled by how powerful he is in that chair; before he was paralyzed, he was even more formidable.”

Zuo Siqiu didn’t know much about the villain’s past, as it wasn’t mentioned in the original book. “Xuan Mo didn’t always use a wheelchair?”

“Of course not,” Yan Jiaojiao replied. “A long time ago, he disappeared for an entire year. When he returned, he couldn’t move. He never said what happened. He stayed like that until this seclusion.”

Zuo Siqiu was curious but didn’t plan to pry. Everyone has secrets. Having had a miserable childhood herself, she hated people who pried under the guise of “caring.” She wouldn’t inflict that on him.

As they spoke, Xuan Mo appeared. Looking at him, Zuo Siqiu suddenly remembered Zhu Jiechou’s words. Is there really a baby in my belly? Who is the father? Could it be Xuan Mo? She shook her head to clear her thoughts.

Xuan Mo walked straight to Zuo Siqiu. He looked down at her, his icy eyes softened by a faint tenderness. “I must thank you for obtaining the Divine Dragon Blood for me.”

Zuo Siqiu looked up, feeling like her neck was going to snap. When he was in the wheelchair, she only had to look down slightly. Now that he was standing close, she realized he was incredibly tall, at least a head taller than her.

Feeling uncomfortable, she took a step back. Under Xuan Mo’s darkening gaze, she muttered, “You’re so tall, my neck hurts.”

She also noticed that he was broad-shouldered with long legs. His belt wasn’t a stiff, wide one; it was just a cord the width of a finger tied loosely around his lean waist, which looked exceptionally narrow and inexplicably alluring.

As she stared at his waist, Xuan Mo’s voice came from above. “Even if looking at my face hurts your neck, you don’t have to keep staring at my waist, do you?” A light chuckle escaped his throat.

Zuo Siqiu instantly looked away, her ears turning red. She had been wondering: Xuan Mo’s waist just recovered… he hasn’t ‘put in any work’ lately, so the baby can’t be his, right? The phrase “put in work” sent a ripple through her heart.

To change the subject, she pulled a bottle of pills from her pouch. “These are the pills I refined for you.”

Xuan Mo took them and scanned them with his divine sense. He was surprised. “You still have Passion Pills?”

“The Nine-Tailed Fox inner core hasn’t been used up yet,” Zuo Siqiu explained. “The previous ones only had a tiny bit of core, but this time I made two ‘Super Invincible Enhanced’ versions. I don’t know what they do, but maybe you can keep them for fun? But use them sparingly; the core is gone now.”

Xuan Mo replied, “If you want it, I can go catch another Nine-Tailed Fox for you.”

Zuo Siqiu’s cheeks flushed. “That… that’s not necessary.”

Since she gave him a gift, Xuan Mo felt he should reciprocate. He reached out his hand. “Since you gave me pills, I should check your cultivation. You reached the Golden Core stage recently; we should prepare you for the Nascent Soul stage.”

For others, this might be rushing things. But Zuo Siqiu’s power wasn’t in combat but in alchemy. Xuan Mo had noticed her precise control over spiritual energy. Higher cultivation would only help her refine better pills.

Zuo Siqiu didn’t dare let him touch her. Zhu Jiechou had detected the pregnancy with a simple pulse check; Xuan Mo would surely know the moment he touched her wrist. Until she knew who the father was, she wanted to keep it a secret.

She instinctively stepped back. “No need! I think my cultivation is still unstable. I should practice more on the Golden Core stage.” She turned to run.

Xuan Mo reached out to grab her. He had finally recovered, and he expected her to praise the dragon blood or extort a reward from him yet she was running away.

But as his hand reached out, he was nearly pecked by a chicken. The big rooster hopped high, wings spreading aggressively, blocking Xuan Mo. Its feathers were puffed out in a protective stance. It had only recently gained intelligence and feared nothing.

Xuan Mo was baffled by the bird’s sudden protectiveness. He calmed down. He had just recovered and was now walking freely; it was natural for Zuo Siqiu to feel a bit overwhelmed or fearful. He should give her time.

Seeing Xuan Mo back off, the rooster turned and sprinted after Zuo Siqiu. Qiuqiu, wait for me! I will protect you and the child! I thought. That creepy Second Brother can’t be the father—he was never with you! I’m the one who’s always hugging and kissing you; I’m your most beloved ‘husband,’ the baby must be mine!

Of course, only the rooster knew these thoughts. If anyone else did, it would cause an uproar.

…

Zhu Jiechou soon learned of Xuan Mo’s emergence and immediately notified Bi Zhian. “I heard Xuan Mo is no longer disabled. His strength must be even greater now.”

Bi Zhian took the pills from him with a smile. “That’s good. Even if he is the Demon Venerable and an enemy to the world, it’s tragic for a cultivator to be unable to walk.”

Zhu Jiechou, now seeing her without a “filter,” barely controlled his expression. You pity the public enemy for being in a wheelchair, yet you think our Master being mangled was ‘fair punishment.’ The master is dead now THAT is the punishment he deserved.

He didn’t show his thoughts, however. He handed her a token. “Take this to the Xuan Cloud Sect. Xuan Mo will not refuse to see you.”

Bi Zhian, having been rejected before, felt a pang of fear. If she were rejected again, she’d be a laughingstock. But she decided to try for the sake of her “father.”

As Bi Zhian headed to the sect, Zhu Jiechou followed secretly. He used a tool from the Long family to disguise himself as a common disciple.

When Bi Zhian showed the token at the mountain gate, Xuan Mo immediately cleared the hall and ordered, “Bring her to me.”

While Bi Zhian was led inside, Zhu Jiechou slipped in under a shadow, searching for Zuo Siqiu.

Zuo Siqiu was currently “walking the chicken” in the mountains. As the only spirit beast in the sect, raised on high-grade pills, the rooster was very pampered. It was also a sweet bird, finding alchemy herbs to gift to Zuo Siqiu even if those herbs were planted there by Xuan Mo specifically for her.

Zuo Siqiu hugged the bird, rubbing her face against its feathers. “Our husband is so sweet, knowing how to pick herbs for me!”

Zhu Jiechou watched this from the shadows, his heart breaking. My beloved Little Junior Sister is living such a hard life here that she has to rely on a chicken to gather materials!

He stepped forward, voice full of emotion. “Little Junior Sister, if you lack materials, just tell me. Why suffer like this?” He handed her a storage pouch. “These are materials I collected. Use them for now; I’ll bring more later.”

Zuo Siqiu jumped in fright. Looking at the “ordinary disciple” speaking nonsense, she was confused. Is this person possessed too? Then she realized only Bixia Sect disciples called her “Little Junior Sister.” It was either Long Xiaotian or Zhu Jiechou.

She took the pouch. “Thanks, Second Senior Brother, for the ‘neighborhood support’.”

Zhu Jiechou didn’t know what a “neighborhood” was, but he didn’t care. She took his gift! In his mind, this was an acknowledgment of his status as the father. His eyes crinkled with joy. “Don’t thank me. I will take up the responsibility of supporting this family. I won’t let you or the child suffer.”

Zuo Siqiu immediately tried to hand the pouch back. “Never mind, I can’t afford this.”

Zhu Jiechou panicked, realizing they were in the middle of the enemy’s sect and she was technically Xuan Mo’s partner. If anyone heard him, they’d all be killed. “My apologies! I won’t say it again. But please, take the materials. Don’t deprive yourself.”

Free stuff from a villain? Why not, Zuo Siqiu thought, happily pocketing the pouch. “Go quickly! What if someone finds you?”

Zhu Jiechou, thinking she was worried for his safety, was moved. “I’m going. But I have one more thing: Bi Zhian is about to marry Xuan Mo. You must use this chance to escape. I will manufacture an opportunity. Even if it costs me my life, I will get you out.” Then he vanished.

Zuo Siqiu didn’t care about escaping, but the news of Bi Zhian marrying Xuan Mo hit her hard. In the original book, they had several failed wedding attempts. She hadn’t questioned the plot, but hearing it now made her chest tight.

She had thought her position as the Sect Leader’s wife was secure. She had even started to like him. And now, he was going to marry Bi Zhian?

As her thoughts spiraled, Yan Jiaojiao flew down and grabbed her hand. “Madam, come with me to the main hall! The Sect Leader has no ‘husbandly virtue’ ; he’s having a private tryst with Bi Zhian!”

Yan Jiaojiao moved so fast Zuo Siqiu stumbled. “Bi Zhian is here? Why would they have a ‘tryst’ in the main hall?”

“It’s just the two of them in there! That’s a tryst!” Yan Jiaojiao declared. “Come with me to declare your sovereignty! We must crush these seductive homewreckers in the bud!”