After Marrying the Evil God - Chapter 18

Just then, Shi Zhi, who was sitting beside him, happened to cast a casual glance over and was immediately drawn to a flash of green on Xie Chouzhuan’s hand. He focused his gaze, his eyes widening instantly, and an involuntary cry escaped his lips: “Holy sh!!!”

The exclamation was like a sudden bolt of thunder, exploding in the quiet classroom.

Students who had been focused on the lecture turned their heads one after another, casting confused looks at Shi Zhi. Even the professor, who had been mid-sentence on the podium, stopped and furrowed his brows in Shi Zhi’s direction.

Realizing he had caused such a scene, Shi Zhi’s face flushed bright red. He hurriedly covered his mouth with his hands. Embarrassed, he lowered his head, inwardly lamenting his luck. Fortunately, after a moment, the class realized nothing was actually wrong and returned their attention to the lesson.

Once everyone stopped looking their way, Shi Zhi let out a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted. He cautiously raised his head, leaned toward Xie Chouzhuan, and asked in an urgent, hushed voice, “No, seriously, brother what is the deal with your hand?”

Faced with Shi Zhi’s inquiry, Xie Chouzhuan remained perfectly calm. “What do you mean, ‘what deal’?”

“The ring on your hand!” Shi Zhi pointed at the conspicuous green ring on Xie Chouzhuan’s left ring finger, speaking anxiously. “Why are you suddenly wearing a ring? Do you have a girlfriend? Since when? How long have you been together? Is she from our school?”

However, Xie Chouzhuan didn’t seem to want to discuss it at that moment. He simply said flatly, “Let’s talk when we get back to the dorm.”

He hadn’t intended to keep it a secret from Shi Zhi, but the classroom was indeed an inconvenient place for details. For the burning curiosity of Shi Zhi, however, this sentence was nothing short of torture. Throughout the entire afternoon, he was like an ant on a hot pan, unable to sit still. His mind was entirely occupied by the ring on Xie Chouzhuan’s hand, constantly guessing every possibility. He scratched his head and ears, praying for class to end quickly so he could drag Xie Chouzhuan back to the dorm and get to the bottom of it.

“What?! You’re married?!”

In the dormitory, Shi Zhi stared at Xie Chouzhuan with his mouth agape, his face a mask of disbelief. “No, brother is your day longer than mine? You’ve been staying in the dorm with me these past few days; how did you manage to get married? Are you cyber-married?”

Xie Chouzhuan was amused by the term “cyber-married.”

“Hurry up and tell me where is your wife from? Is she from our school?”

“No. It’s a man. And I don’t know where he’s from.”

“Xie Chouzhuan, are you crazy? You weren’t scammed into a marriage, were you? Have you even met him? Online dating is unreliable these days; for all you know, the person on the other side is a fifty-year-old man who picks his feet.” Shi Zhi grabbed Xie Chouzhuan’s arm and shook him frantically. “You’re a fine young man, a flower of the motherland—why would you throw your life away like this?”

“No, don’t get so worked up. I’ve met him. He’s very handsome, and it was love at first sight for both of us.” As Xie Chouzhuan finished those last few words vaguely, he thought he heard a faint chuckle in his ear.

“Really that handsome? Enough for love at first sight?” Shi Zhi was still full of suspicion. “What does he do for a living?”

“Truly handsome. He’s… a freelancer.”

Shi Zhi: “???”

Xie Chouzhuan couldn’t explain too much and could only be ambiguous. “In any case, I understand his situation. Don’t worry, he’s a very good person.”

Shi Zhi finally nodded. “Alright then. I was just afraid you’d be tricked by some ‘Yellow Hair’ (punk).”

“Am I really that easy to trick?”

“Yes.”

As night fell and the city lights began to glow, Xie Chouzhuan packed a few items, thinking of visiting the new apartment his eldest brother had bought.

When Xie Chouzhuan pushed open the door, an alluring aroma of home-cooked food greeted his nose. The scent instantly stirred his hunger, and he quickened his pace into the room. He saw Ji Sixian placing the final, perfectly presented dish onto the dining table. Raising his head, Ji Sixian revealed a gentle smile. “You’re back? Dinner just finished; eat while it’s hot.”

Xie Chouzhuan looked at him in surprise and asked, “How did you know I was coming over today?”

Ji Sixian smiled slightly. “I didn’t. But if you hadn’t come back, I was prepared to create a paper effigy to take your place and then steal you away!”

As he spoke, he reached out and took Xie Chouzhuan’s hand, pulling him to a chair. He thoughtfully served him a full bowl of rice. “I’ve recently learned a few new dishes. Taste them and see how they are.”

It had to be said that Ji Sixian’s culinary skills were truly excellent; his cooking was not inferior to the private chefs at Xie’s home. Xie Chouzhuan ate until he was stuffed.

“Since you have married me, you are one of us. Take this and look through it; it will be helpful to you.” Ji Sixian produced a book and gave it to him.

Xie Chouzhuan discovered it was a book on metaphysics and the occult.

“Once you have mastered it, you can accumulate more merit; it will help you in the future. I will first guide you through a rotation of spiritual energy.” Ji Sixian took his hand and injected a wisp of spiritual energy.

As the energy circled through Xie Chouzhuan’s meridians once, he could faintly feel the spiritual power within himself.

“Is it really this simple?” Xie Chouzhuan looked curiously at the faint blue glow appearing on his hand.

Ji Sixian flicked his forehead with a finger. “You think cultivation is that easy? Some people might not even manage to condense energy in an entire lifetime. The reason you have spiritual power now is because of our previous dual cultivation.”

Xie Chouzhuan’s cheeks turned slightly red.

“Now that you have developed spiritual energy, you can begin reading books on Feng Shui. This is currently an era of declining magic where demons and monsters run rampant. Although you have my protection, you must still increase your own strength as quickly as possible.”

“I understand.” Xie Chouzhuan nodded. “Brother, what kind of techniques do you study?”

“I have dabbled in all sorts of arts, though I am most proficient in the arts of slaughter.”

Xie Chouzhuan’s eyes lit up slightly. “Can you teach me a few moves?” He had been getting into trouble lately; learning some offensive techniques would make him safer.

Seeing his desire to learn, Ji Sixian had no reason to refuse. “Then I shall teach you how to draw talismans. They can both kill and trap enemies, making them most suitable for a beginner.”

Ji Sixian raised his hand, and a piece of yellow paper appeared. He drew a complex pattern upon it; the stroke was so powerful it seemed to penetrate the paper. The small talisman appeared slightly unable to withstand the spiritual energy he injected, showing faint signs of cracking.

“This is the Spirit-Devouring Array, one of the simplest techniques. You try.”

Xie Chouzhuan looked at him blankly. “Am I supposed to draw it directly like that, too?”

Ji Sixian handed him a yellow talisman and a brush. “Your spiritual energy is insufficient. Use these to try on the paper.”

Xie Chouzhuan tried his best to recall the array, but his strokes were incredibly clumsy. Before he had drawn more than a few lines, his strength failed him.

“It’s so hard!” Xie Chouzhuan rubbed his aching wrist.

“Your spiritual energy is too weak right now; being able to draw this much is already not bad.”

“Is there any way to learn faster?”

Hearing this, Ji Sixian’s brows arched slightly. “There is.”

“What way?”

“Dual cultivate with me.”