I Reborn on the Night I Divorced the Sword Deity, My Childhood Friend - Chapter 15

That night, as the bright moon first rose, it reflected on the river like shimmering liquid silver, trailing a dreamlike wake behind the stern of the boat. With a clear breeze and a white moon, it was the perfect time to enjoy the scenery.

But Wen Su was not at ease.

At this moment, he stood straight at the bow, one hand raising the sail and the other gripping the rudder. He was frantically driving the White Jade Boat, racing toward the Demon Realm. The wind caught the hem of his black robes, outlining a sharp, lean waist.

Since Shen Du announced the severance of his father-son relationship with Shen Junyu, many other sects had sensed an unusual shift in the air. They immediately followed suit, mimicking the Lingbao Sect by issuing their own wanted bounties for Shen Junyu and Wen Su. After all, the pair had effectively plundered the entire Yin-Yang Secret Realm, and the treasures in their possession were numerous.

Among these were heavenly materials and earthly treasures that the Sword Sect and Yuheng Sect had once strictly monopolized. How could anyone not be envious?

Fortunately, Wen Su had deployed his informants early on. Having received word of the situation in advance, he began driving the White Jade Boat toward the Demon Realm without pause. He had not shared this news with Shen Junyu, who was focused on cultivation inside the cabin; while one piece of bad news had triggered a breakthrough, there was no telling what a second might do.

Thus, Wen Su kept the information to himself, pushing the boat forward with frantic intensity. However, his current cultivation was only comparable to the Human Race’s Golden Core stage, and the White Jade Boat was an Earth-grade artifact; maintaining such a pace was exhausting. Within two hours, a thin layer of sweat broke out on his pale forehead, and his demonic energy showed signs of depletion.

Just as a hint of irritable unease rose in Wen Su’s heart, a soft voice spoke low.

“Why aren’t you resting yet?”

The calm, gentle voice jolted Wen Su’s spirit. He looked back to see Shen Junyu lifting the cabin curtain and stepping out toward him. Seeing that refined figure in white silhouetted by the moonlight, Wen Su felt a layer of his fatigue inexplicably vanish.

He offered a smile and made up a casual excuse. “We demonic cultivators don’t rest much. Why aren’t you sleeping?”

Shen Junyu paused, then replied candidly, “The sound of the river is too loud, the prayer mat is stiff and prickly, and I have trouble sleeping in new places.”

Wen Su was speechless. It was an… unexpected reason. He had imagined Shen Junyu to be an indomitable character who feared nothing, and thus wouldn’t care for such trifles. But looking at him now, he was still a refined young master raised in a great sect. Surprisingly, this didn’t annoy Wen Su; instead, it made Shen Junyu seem more interesting.

Naturally, Wen Su didn’t say these thoughts aloud. As Shen Junyu approached, he noticed the sweat on Wen Su’s face and sensed his uneven breathing. Being highly perceptive, Shen Junyu immediately asked, “What happened? Why are you in such a hurry?”

Wen Su hadn’t expected him to be so sharp. Since Shen Junyu seemed to be in a good state, Wen Su considered for a moment before giving a brief overview of the situation.

After listening quietly, Shen Junyu said decisively, “Go and rest. I will take the rudder.”

Wen Su instinctively frowned. “There’s no need—”

“Do you look down on me?”

“I—” Wen Su started, but looking into Shen Junyu’s faintly smiling glazed eyes, he found himself silenced. Finally conceding, he instructed, “Fine, you take over. But do not overexert yourself. If you are tired, you must call me.”

Shen Junyu simply looked at him with those mirror-clear eyes without speaking. Wen Su froze for an instant, then shook his head with a laugh. “Very well, I am talking too much.” He stepped aside to let Shen Junyu take over.

As Wen Su was about to hand over the controls, something cool, soft, and carrying a faint sweet fragrance was pressed between his lips.

Wen Su: ?

A jolt like an electric current shot through him. He snapped back to his senses and looked up, but Shen Junyu had already gracefully taken the rudder and sail. Shen Junyu offered a faint smile. “I took all the treasures from the secret realm and forgot to share them with you. It was inconsiderate of me to let you exhaust yourself so much. Please don’t mind.”

Wen Su’s eyelids twitched. After a long pause, he shook his head. Usually eloquent, he only managed a soft reply: “It was our agreement. It’s not your fault.”

Shen Junyu smiled. “Mm.”

Silence returned to the bow. Wen Su watched Shen Junyu navigate for a moment before chewing the spirit fruit in his mouth. Immediately, a surge of rich spiritual energy flooded his body, nourishing his parched meridians. However, a single thought occupied his mind: I don’t know what variety of fruit this is, but it’s far too sweet.

The news of Shen Du severing ties and the various sects issuing bounties naturally reached Yuan Muzhou’s ears. When he learned how eagerly Shen Du had distanced himself from his own son, Yuan Muzhou felt a chill in his heart. His opinion of the Shen family dropped to a freezing point. He realized the favoritism he had witnessed was merely the tip of the iceberg. He was equally disgusted by the other sects kicking a man while he was down.

His primary concern, however, was Shen Junyu’s safety. With his father severing ties and other sects hunting him, many powerful masters would surely move to corner him. Shen Junyu’s life was in grave danger. Consequently, Yuan Muzhou spent a moment in silent, frowning thought before heading straight to the Sword Sovereign Hall.

The Sword Sovereign Hall was the residence of the successive sect masters of the Sword Sect. The hall was silent and tranquil, filled only with swirling clouds of incense. Through layers of magnificent silk curtains, Yuan Muzhou saw the tall figure seated on the high platform. He knelt respectfully.

“Greetings, Sect Master. Disciple Yuan Muzhou has a request.”

A calm voice of indeterminate age spoke. “Is it regarding the Shen family boy?”

Yuan Muzhou’s heart jumped, but he maintained his composure and bowed deeply. “Yes. I ask the Sect Master to speak a word to the other sects so they will stop the bounty on Junyu. Though he has been misled by a demonic cultivator, he has not truly fallen into the demonic path. He should not be treated this way. Please, Sect Master, be the judge!”

“But his collusion with a demonic cultivator is a fact. Many disciples witnessed it; there can be no mistake.”

Yuan Muzhou grit his teeth. “It was my mistake that drove him to act out of spite. When I find him, I will surely convince him to return to the righteous path.” He bowed again.

The figure on the platform fell silent. Yuan Muzhou waited until his knees grew numb and his hope began to fade. Finally, the voice returned.

“Some time ago, you sent messages to the medical masters of other sects to treat the Shen family’s younger son. Do you remember?”

Yuan Muzhou was stunned and looked up in shock. How did the Sword Sovereign know? Was that why those masters never arrived?

Sensing his thoughts, the Sword Sovereign said indifferently, “Reshaping a Golden Core is no small matter. Why should they do you such a favor? Naturally, they sought my approval. As I have not yet granted it, they will not act.”

Yuan Muzhou: ?! It was like this?!

If so, was the delay that cost Shen Junyu so much in his previous life not fate, but… A bone-chilling coldness surged through him. He couldn’t regain his senses. He thought he knew everything, but he didn’t know nearly enough. How much had Shen Junyu endured in the previous life? He could never know.

The ethereal voice continued, “Neither of these matters is small, and both are the internal affairs of the Yuheng Sect. If I interfere without cause, what would others think of our Sword Sect? Furthermore, your conduct outside lately has shamed our reputation. Not punishing you is already an act of mercy.”

Yuan Muzhou’s heart sank, and he pressed his lips thin, about to beg again. The Sword Sovereign saw through him. “Do not beg. Since you are my most prized disciple, I will grant you one of the two requests. You choose. However, once the matter is settled, you will go to the back mountain in seclusion. You are not to emerge until you reach the Nascent Soul stage.”

Yuan Muzhou’s heart trembled, and he fell silent. After a long while, he recovered from his daze. Previously, he might have hesitated, but now he had no reason to. Even without a Golden Core, Shen Du and his wife would never let Shen Siyuan die. But if those masters cornered Shen Junyu, he would have no way out.

Finally, he bowed his head to the floor. “Please, Sect Master, have the sects withdraw the bounty on Junyu. Afterward, I will go to the mountain.”

After a brief silence, the voice replied, “Very well. In that case, the guests from the Yuheng Sect are no longer suitable to stay at our Sword Sect. Don’t you agree?”

Yuan Muzhou’s brow twitched. After a long struggle, he grit his teeth and said, “I will follow the Sect Master’s arrangements.”

On the great river, Shen Junyu and Wen Su took turns driving the boat day and night. They were finally within fifty miles of the Demon Realm.

At this point, Wen Su’s little informants returned with news: for some reason, overnight, all the sects had withdrawn their bounties on Shen Junyu and Wen Su. Wen Su’s eyes flickered behind his mask; he had his suspicions. However, he kept this information to himself. They were almost at the Demon Realm, and he didn’t want any complications now.

Half a day later, the first city of the Demon Realm appeared on the horizon. Seeing no further threats, Wen Su let go of the rudder and allowed the boat to drift.

He spoke to Shen Junyu. “Though you are now a demonic cultivator and needn’t fear being exposed, there are too many experts in the Demon Realm who are wary of the Human Race. If you go in with that face, you will be attacked.”

“I will change my appearance,” Shen Junyu said.

Wen Su smiled faintly. “Let me do it. Your disguise technique can only fool demonic cultivators up to one realm higher than you. But I have a secret technique that no one can see through unless the Demon Sovereign himself appears.”

Shen Junyu raised an eyebrow. “That powerful?”

A hint of pride crossed Wen Su’s lips. “One must have a few secret tricks when traveling. Come closer; time is short.”

After their time together, Shen Junyu had hidden nothing from Wen Su except for the matter of the mark and his rebirth. Trusting him, Shen Junyu stepped forward.

Wen Su raised his hand and summoned a drop of pale blue blood from his storage ring.

Shen Junyu’s heart stirred. “Mirage Dragon blood?”

Wen Su remained calm, his long fingers forming a hand seal as he summoned a special liquid. He slowly dissolved the blood into a thin membrane while explaining, “Mirage Dragon blood is rare for your Human Race, but common enough for Demons and Spirits. If you can pay the price, it’s easily found on the black market.”

“I see,” Shen Junyu said.

As he spoke, Wen Su gently tilted Shen Junyu’s face with one hand, while the other held the mask-shaped membrane toward him. The membrane felt like a cool breath of air on his skin—it was formless yet substantial. Conversely, the slight calluses on Wen Su’s fingertips as they traced over his face created a faint, tingling sensation.

Despite knowing it was for business, Shen Junyu felt a slight heat rise to his face. He lowered his eyelashes and shifted his gaze. Strangely, though he looked away, Wen Su’s fingers seemed closer. They were beautiful fingers—slender and strong like jade or bamboo. On his slightly curled index finger, he wore a black-gold ring. The ring was simple and ancient, engraved with mysterious runes and a serpent totem. Shen Junyu found himself staring at it.

From Wen Su’s perspective, it was a different sight. When Shen Junyu focused, his long lashes cast shadows like feathered fans over his jade-like skin. From his smooth forehead to his straight nose and slightly pursed pale lips—everything was harmonious, like a master’s painting. Wen Su dazed for a moment, and his movements faltered.

Suddenly, Shen Junyu asked, “Your ring is very special. Did you make it yourself?”

Wen Su snapped back to reality. He discreetly cleared the confusion from his eyes and smoothed the final trace of the mask onto Shen Junyu’s face. “I made it with my own hands. If you like it, I will give it to you.”

Shen Junyu was surprised. “What?”

Wen Su, now back to his usual self, smiled and said nothing. He slid the ring off his finger. Before Shen Junyu could refuse, Wen Su calmly took Shen Junyu’s left hand and slipped the ring onto his finger.

The ring still carried Wen Su’s body heat. As it slid on, Shen Junyu’s fingertip curled slightly. He looked up, frowning to refuse. But Wen Su remained calm, looking at him with a raised eyebrow. “One good turn deserves another; consider it thanks for your spirit fruit. Let me be generous for once, shall we?”

Shen Junyu was speechless. After a moment, his eyes flickered, and he smiled. “Since you put it that way, I will accept it.”

Wen Su smiled. Just as he was about to say more, he caught a glimpse of the view ahead. He turned to look. A bustling, towering city radiating brilliant demonic light came into view. A white jade bridge descended from the city gates, landing at the end of the river. The plaque on the city read: “Heaven-Gifted Divine Realm.”

Seeing such a grand sight, Shen Junyu focused his gaze. A smile touched Wen Su’s lips.

“The Demon Realm has arrived.”