After the Demon Lord Lost His Memory, He Became the Immortal Venerable's Dao Companion - Chapter 14

After Shen Yuzong finished preparing breakfast, he went in to call for Qi Yan, who was already dressed in new clothes and sitting before the dressing table.

Every piece of clothing Shen Yuzong picked out for Qi Yan was vibrant and striking. On an ordinary person, it might appear gaudy, but on Qi Yan, it only served to enhance his natural elegance. Today, he had chosen a rose-red set. Clad in it, Qi Yan looked just like a fresh, dewy peony in full bloom.

“Zhuzhu, what would you like to say to your husband this morning?”

Shen Yuzong used a comb to smooth Qi Yan’s hair from top to bottom. Qi Yan’s hair was long, and simply combing through one side took a significant amount of time, yet Shen Yuzong was always happy to do it.

“I want to scold you.”

Shen Yuzong chuckled. “I have already memorized all the words you use to scold me.”

Qi Yan ignored him, looking at himself in the mirror and pouting in frustration. Unfortunately, Qi Yan rarely lost his temper, and even when he put on a cold face, it looked more like he was acting coy.

Shen Yuzong set the comb down, picked up the hair from both sides of Qi Yan’s face, and braided it into the remaining loose hair. He then selected a silver hair accessory from the vanity and pinned it to the top of the braid. There were tiny bells hanging from the accessory, which emitted a crisp sound every time Qi Yan moved.

Shen Yuzong leaned down, bringing their faces to the same level, and stared intently at the person in the mirror. He then took a golden chain with hanging gold bells from his storage ring and tied it around Qi Yan’s wrist. Qi Yan had slender wrists; whenever he raised his hand, the bracelet would slide down, jingling musically.

“What is this?” Qi Yan asked, shaking his hand.

“A bracelet.”

Shen Yuzong did not finish his thought. This bracelet contained a tracking function and, in an emergency, could block a single attack from a Great Perfection stage cultivator.

“Are you hungry, Zhuzhu?”

Qi Yan did not strictly need to eat, but for the past few days, Shen Yuzong had accompanied him during meals, and he had grown unaccustomed to not eating.

“A little, I suppose.”

Shen Yuzong led Qi Yan outside to sit on a wooden chair. Qi Yan was still seated on Shen Yuzong’s lap, and Shen Yuzong was in charge of feeding him. He did not know what was wrong with Shen Yuzong, but every time Qi Yan refused, he used the excuse that Qi Yan’s body had not yet fully recovered. Yet, all this time, Qi Yan had not discovered anything wrong with his body.

“Zhuzhu, is it too hot?”

Shen Yuzong served a bowl of bird’s nest soup and lifted a spoonful to Qi Yan’s lips. Qi Yan had been eating this for several days in a row; it was served at almost every meal. Now, just the sight of it made him want to gag. He turned his head away. “I do not want to eat it.”

“Why not?”

“Are you not tired of eating the same dish for a whole week?” Qi Yan looked at Shen Yuzong indignantly. He reasonably suspected that Shen Yuzong was doing this on purpose.

“That is true. In that case, feed me, Zhuzhu. Wasting food is not a good habit.”

Shen Yuzong turned the spoon around and offered it to Qi Yan. Qi Yan had no intention of feeding Shen Yuzong; there was no telling what he might do next.

“Release me first.”

Shen Yuzong did as Qi Yan asked and lowered the hand he had been resting on Qi Yan’s waist. “And then?”

“And then…” As Qi Yan said this, he took the opportunity to jump off Shen Yuzong’s lap and run away. “Then I am not feeding you!”

Qi Yan’s hair brushed past Shen Yuzong’s face, and the moist, fragrant scent lingered on the tip of his nose for only a second before vanishing. The air was still filled with the crisp sound of the bells Qi Yan had left in his wake as he turned.

Shen Yuzong set the bowl down and leaned on his arm, watching Qi Yan as he ducked behind a pillar. Qi Yan hid there, a bit of his rose-red robe showing. His hair swayed like willow branches over a lake, and his face was filled with a triumphant smile.

Shen Yuzong stood up and said in a deep voice, “Then your husband will have to come and catch you.”

As soon as Qi Yan heard his voice, he ran to the side. A breeze kicked up the hem of his robe, and the courtyard was filled with the sound of jingling bells. Wherever Shen Yuzong walked, Qi Yan ran in the opposite direction. Shen Yuzong simply stood in the middle of the courtyard and snapped his fingers.

Qi Yan found himself unable to resist, flying straight toward Shen Yuzong until he was held in his arms once again.

“You are a rascal!”

“How am I a rascal?” Shen Yuzong gathered Qi Yan against his waist, looking completely unbothered by the accusation.

“You are playing dirty!”

“I cannot accept that. Was it not you, Zhuzhu, who lied first? If anyone is a rascal, it is you, Zhuzhu.”

Shen Yuzong was glib-tongued. Not only could Qi Yan not win an argument against him, but he also found himself being blamed instead.

After clearing the table, Shen Yuzong found another interest. He took two wooden swords out of his storage ring.

“What are you doing?” Qi Yan asked, lying on a stone bench, feeling bored.

“How about I teach you sword practice, Zhuzhu?”

Qi Yan glanced at the wooden sword. He picked one up casually, his fingers tracing the hilt from the base to the pommel. Gripping the handle, he turned around and flicked his wrist. The fallen flowers beneath the peach tree were swept up by the sword wind, scattering backward.

Qi Yan gripped the sword, changed direction, and thrust it toward Shen Yuzong. Shen Yuzong did not dodge, momentarily mesmerized by the smile on Qi Yan’s face. It was then that Qi Yan suddenly released his tension, and the petals flew toward Shen Yuzong, covering him entirely.

Qi Yan leaned on his sword and laughed. Shen Yuzong laughed along with him. He reached out to remove the petals from his face and then guided Qi Yan’s hand to grip the hilt again. Qi Yan’s hair fluttered in the wind, brushing against Shen Yuzong’s lips. He looked down and caught sight of Qi Yan’s snow-white neck.

“Zhuzhu, you must use your waist to generate power when using the sword.”

Qi Yan froze and looked up at Shen Yuzong.

“Have you said this to me before?”

Shen Yuzong lowered his head and left a kiss on Qi Yan’s eyelid. “It is a pity that Zhuzhu is too foolish; no matter how many times I say it, you never remember.”

Qi Yan was annoyed and stomped on Shen Yuzong’s foot. “You are the foolish one! You are the foolish one!”

Shen Yuzong did not speak. He led Qi Yan’s hand, stepping forward sideways. The tip of the sword thrust straight at the peach tree, then swirled slowly from bottom to top, stirring up a vortex of wind that billowed their robes. Feeling the warmth of his hand, Shen Yuzong remembered that several hundred years ago, he had taught Qi Yan to practice the sword in this exact same way.

Back then, Qi Yan was merely a low-level disciple who had come to the Cliff of Reflection to help with chores. Whenever their robes became entangled, Shen Yuzong would take advantage of Qi Yan’s innocence to rest his hand on his waist. And Qi Yan, always looking so naive, would thank the Immortal Venerable for his guidance after every practice session.

He had even thought about taking Qi Yan as his disciple and keeping him by his side, but then an accident occurred.

Memories flashed continuously through his mind. Shen Yuzong looked down at Qi Yan’s focused expression. Then let Zhuzhu make up for everything he owes me.

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