I Reborn on the Night I Divorced the Sword Deity, My Childhood Friend - Chapter 20.2

Once the ship was steady, Meng Xingyan turned to Shen Junyu and remarked with a touch of emotion, “I truly did not know Brother Wen Su was such a righteous man. It seems I misjudged him before. However, while Mu Lingtian appears simple-minded, his strikes are extremely ruthless. Brother Wen Su will likely suffer for it.”

Shen Junyu’s eyes flickered. Just as he was about to speak, Meng Xingyan added, “But please rest assured, Brother Wen Yu. If Brother Wen Su has a mishap, I will step in personally. I won’t let anything happen to him.”

“He won’t have any trouble,” Shen Junyu replied with a calm, faint smile as he shook his head.

Meng Xingyan: ?

Before the words had even settled, the battle was decided. And it ended incredibly fast.

They watched as Wen Su delivered a mid-air kick, sending Mu Lingtian hurtling from the sky onto the deck! The white jade floorboards shattered upon impact, leaving a massive hole. As Mu Lingtian staggered to climb out, attempting to forcibly release his suppressed cultivation, Wen Su landed another kick squarely on his chest.

Mu Lingtian coughed up blood and collapsed, still feebly struggling. A second later, Wen Su descended and delivered a finishing kick directly to Mu Lingtian’s face. The man’s eyes rolled back, and he fell completely unconscious.

A dead silence fell over the river.

After a long while, Meng Xingyan spoke with a trembling voice, “Brother Wen Su… is he dead?”

Wen Su brushed the blood off his sleeves with a flick. “He’s not dead. Carry him out.”

Meng Xingyan breathed a sigh of relief. He figured as much—demonic cultivators were resilient; as long as the primordial spirit remained intact, they could survive being smashed to pieces. It was just that Wen Su’s aura moments ago was so terrifying that he had actually felt a moment of absurd worry.

As long as Mu Lingtian lived, it was fine. Both were sons of Demon Lords. Though Mu Lingtian’s father currently held more power, he still stood on equal footing with the Heavenly Eye Demon Lord. There was no reason to fear. Furthermore, Mu Lingtian had initiated the provocation; with witnesses and evidence, they could hold their ground in any dispute.

Meng Xingyan called for the demon generals to clear the deck. Once the area was empty, he offered a rare, serious bow to Wen Su. “My thanks to Brother Wen Su for acting so righteously. I failed to recognize a mountain before my eyes. Now that I have seen your grace, I realize—”

Wen Su raised a hand, cutting off the flattery. He spoke indifferently, “I didn’t do it for you.”

Meng Xingyan: ?

“This involves the reputation of the Cloud Dream Demon Lord. If I didn’t teach him a lesson today, who knows what the consequences would be if she found out and took offense later?”

Meng Xingyan’s back was instantly drenched in a cold sweat. He had only been angry that Mu Lingtian had mocked his private affairs, but Wen Su’s reminder made him realize the gravity of the Demon Lord’s face. Cloud Dream was the only female among the eight Demon Lords and the sworn sister of the current Demon Sovereign. Her temperament was icy and ruthless. If she learned of this and felt he hadn’t handled it properly, the consequences would be unthinkable.

Wholly convinced now, Meng Xingyan bowed deeply once more. “Thank you for the guidance, Brother Wen Su. Without you, I might have made a catastrophic mistake.”

Wen Su replied, “If you truly wish to thank me, don’t arrange these dances next time. I don’t care to watch them, and my brother dislikes them even more.”

Meng Xingyan’s face stiffened, but he quickly recovered, forced a laugh, and agreed. He didn’t dare say another word.

Meng Xingyan was a man of his word. On the way back, he became significantly more disciplined and respectful, no longer daring to be overly familiar with Shen Junyu. Though he was often arrogant and spoiled, he was a master of reading the situation. Seeing that both Shen Junyu and Wen Su possessed extraordinary abilities, he abandoned any thoughts of testing them and focused solely on being hospitable.

Back at their quarters.

Once Meng Xingyan had left, Shen Junyu’s eyes shifted as he turned to Wen Su. “Did you truly act today solely for the ‘greater good’?”

Wen Su’s hand paused as he poured tea. He eventually replied as if it were nothing, “What’s done is done.”

Shen Junyu sighed softly. “You…”

Wen Su’s heart skipped a beat. He looked at Shen Junyu’s fair profile, which was calm and devoid of reproach under the lamplight. He found those two words more interesting the more he dwelled on them. Abandoning his tea, he put the cup down. “Do you think I was too impulsive?”

Shen Junyu looked surprised, then shook his head. “I said nothing of the sort.” After a pause, he added seriously, “But you should do such things less often in the future. After all, it brings you no benefit.”

Wen Su felt a surge of warmth at these words, but he teased, “Since you knew that, why didn’t you warn me today?”

It was a bit of a stubborn argument. However, Shen Junyu explained patiently, “I intended to, but seeing how confident you were, I performed a quick divination. The result was ‘Great Fortune,’ so I decided a warning was unnecessary.”

It was Wen Su’s turn to be surprised. “You even performed a divination for me?”

Just as Shen Junyu was about to answer, a soft knock came at the door. “Masters Wen, our Marquis says that since you have just arrived, he hasn’t had the chance to show you the local customs. He has sent me with some local specialties and toys for you.”

Shen Junyu told him to enter. Beside him, Wen Su frowned but remained silent. A demon general entered respectfully, set down the items, and left. On the table sat a sandalwood box, about three feet square, topped with a letter. The ink was still fresh—it had clearly just been written by Meng Xingyan.

Wen Su glanced at it with disinterest and went behind the screen to change. His clothes had been stained with blood during the fight, and even with a cleaning spell, he no longer wanted them. Shen Junyu opened the letter.

Hearing Wen Su behind the screen, Shen Junyu asked, “Shall I read it to you?”

“Go ahead,” Wen Su replied while undressing.

Shen Junyu began to read in a steady, clear, and refreshing voice. The first half of the letter was filled with praise for Wen Su’s “heroic bearing” and “extraordinary talent.” Shen Junyu couldn’t help but smile as he read. Behind the screen, Wen Su felt his veins throb; he wanted to punch Meng Xingyan, yet he couldn’t bring himself to stop Shen Junyu from reading.

However, when Shen Junyu reached the part where Meng Xingyan praised him, he suddenly stopped after two lines. “It’s just flowery flattery. I won’t read it. He mentions actual business later, I’ll read that—”

Wen Su walked right out. He hadn’t finished changing; he wore only loose black trousers cinched with a sharkskin belt, revealing a lean, powerful waist. His pale, solid muscles were exposed, the lines of his body sharp and smooth under the warm glow of the lamp. It was a beautiful, perfect physique.

Shen Junyu was momentarily speechless but naturally looked away. “What’s the hurry?”

Wen Su leaned in close to Shen Junyu. “I want to see what ‘good things’ he wrote. Why do you only read the parts for me and not yours?”

Wen Su’s gaze fixed on the letter held in Shen Junyu’s fair fingers. After a long moment, he read the words aloud in a flat tone: “As bright as the moon, as graceful as a swan, a natural elegance that is unforgettable once seen?”

The words themselves weren’t much, but Wen Su hadn’t kept his distance. Half of his body was nearly pressed against Shen Junyu, and his warm breath fell directly on Shen Junyu’s temple. The skin of Shen Junyu’s ear began to flush.

Shen Junyu felt slightly uncomfortable and was about to move away when Wen Su added, “The Young Marquis truly is well-read. He knows so many poetic words. Unlike us common folk who can barely recognize a few characters, let alone write such things.”

His tone was cool and unreadable, but something felt off. Shen Junyu looked at him, his focus landing on the wrong point. “You don’t understand poetry?” Is that why you dislike Meng Xingyan’s display of literary talent?

Wen Su seized the opportunity. He lowered his eyes and said sadly, “Yes. I didn’t even recognize characters in my youth. It was only later that my adoptive brother taught me to read, though it was only so I could understand cultivation techniques. He didn’t teach me anything else.”

In truth, Wen Su simply hadn’t wanted to learn, but he wasn’t going to admit that. Shen Junyu looked at his downcast expression and fell silent. After a moment, he said seriously, “If you want to learn, I can teach you. You don’t have to envy others in the future.”

“Truly?” Wen Su asked.

“Why would I lie to you about this?”

After a brief silence, Wen Su’s brow twitched. He didn’t dare joke further and looked back at the letter. “Never mind that for now. Let’s look at the business Meng Xingyan mentioned.”

Shen Junyu realized he had been teased and gave a helpless smile, but didn’t call him out. “Fine, business first.”

Wen Su breathed a silent sigh of relief and read the letter aloud: “I know the two of you are of high character, so I have a presumptuous request. In a month’s time, the Cloud Dream Demon Lord will hold a martial competition to choose a husband at Mount Yuhuang. I have admired her for a long time. If you are willing to assist me during the competition, I will offer a great reward.”

Wen Su frowned. After a moment of thought, he gave a slight sneer. “It seems Mu Lingtian wasn’t the only one at fault today. He was likely played by Meng Xingyan before. This kid is far too—”

He turned to look at Shen Junyu, only to find him staring intensely at the letter, lost in thought. “What is it?”

Shen Junyu snapped back to reality and shook his head. After a moment, he spoke with rare decisiveness, “We must go to this martial competition.”

Wen Su was surprised. “Why? Do you really want to help that kid? You should know the competition will be full of talent; Meng Xingyan’s strength is middle-tier at best. Even if we help, we can’t win it for him.”

“It has nothing to do with him,” Shen Junyu replied. He looked up at Wen Su. “Don’t you find Meng Xingyan and the Heavenly Eye Demon Lord unreliable? How many great powers do you think will attend such a grand event hosted by the Cloud Dream Demon Lord?”

Wen Su looked into Shen Junyu’s clear eyes. “You mean?”

“We agree to Meng Xingyan’s request so he takes us there. Once we are there, wouldn’t it be better to carefully select a truly bright master to follow? Otherwise, where else would we get the chance to meet the other Demon Lords and great powers?”

Wen Su broke into a smile, a spark of brilliance in his eyes. “That plan is brilliant. Truly worthy of you.”

The two were in complete agreement. Shen Junyu sat down to write a reply to Meng Xingyan while Wen Su stood by. Midway through, Shen Junyu looked up and asked, “Are you hot?”

“Not at all,” Wen Su replied, puzzled.

Shen Junyu’s gaze rested calmly on Wen Su’s exposed chest. Wen Su met his gaze, paused, and then suddenly felt embarrassed. He hurried back into the inner room to finish dressing.

At the third watch of the night, the candles were out, and moonlight streamed through the window. Shen Junyu lay on his bed, looking up at the golden patterns on the canopy. He was reflecting on the competition.

In his previous life, this event was a major turning point that he had heard about even while confined in the Yunmiao Pavilion. The man chosen by Cloud Dream had eventually colluded with his father to betray her and the Demon Sovereign, leading to a coup. The ensuing chaos weakened the Demon Realm significantly, allowing the Sword Sect to seize several cities.

Previously, Shen Junyu had viewed these events through the lens of being Yuan Muzhou’s partner, considering only the Sword Sect’s interests. But now, as a demonic cultivator with a friend like Wen Su, he couldn’t watch the Demon Realm fall into crisis. This was why he had decided to go—to try and stop the betrayal and find a better path for them both. He believed that while fate is ordained by heaven, success depends on human effort. With that thought, his heart settled, and he fell asleep.

He didn’t know that in the darkness, a pair of deep black eyes watched him until he was sound asleep before finally looking away.

The next day, Meng Xingyan was overjoyed to receive their reply and immediately sent over more gifts. Dozens of days later, the time for the competition approached. Meng Xingyan prepared the white jade galley and they set off.

This time, Meng Xingyan brought no extra servants, keeping things quiet. On a clear day, he set up a small table on the deck to discuss plans. Ever since Wen Su had humbled Mu Lingtian, no more trouble had come their way. It was rumored that Mu Lingtian’s father had confined him and that Cloud Dream had demanded an explanation, resulting in Mu Lingtian’s punishment being extended.

Meng Xingyan’s respect for Wen Su grew. Coupled with the divination guidance Shen Junyu had provided, he now treated them like respected elders. He poured wine and produced portraits of the other competitors, detailing their identities, skills, and preferences.

Wen Su passed the portraits to Shen Junyu. As they discussed counter-strategies, Meng Xingyan took diligent notes. After several portraits, Wen Su noticed the way Shen Junyu was staring at a handsome man in one of the drawings. His heart gave a slight jolt. He feigned a yawn and said, “That’s enough for today. We’ll look at the rest tomorrow.”

“Of course,” Meng Xingyan replied. “Brother Wen Su, are you tired? Shall I give you a massage?”

Wen Su: …

Shen Junyu put down the portrait and smiled. “If you massage him, he’ll likely be even less able to sleep.”

Meng Xingyan gave a sheepish smile and tried to change the subject. “By the way, have you heard about the interesting news from the Human side in the Central State?”

Wen Su didn’t speak. Shen Junyu asked, “What happened?”

“It’s about the marriage between the Sword Sect and the Yuheng Sect. It even involves the Demon Race; it’s quite a story.”

Shen Junyu went quiet. “I see.”

Meng Xingyan, unaware of the tension, recounted the events from the secret realm involving Shen Junyu, Wen Su, Yuan Muzhou, and Shen Siyuan. The atmosphere grew heavy. Wen Su wanted to stop him, but Meng Xingyan continued.

“Guess what happened next? After the Yuheng Sect Leader severed ties with Shen Junyu, he actually tried to send his younger son to be the Sword Sect’s young master’s concubine! Even as a demonic cultivator, I have to admire that level of sycophancy and opportunism.”

At least he, Meng Xingyan, did things himself and never betrayed his friends or family.

Wen Su: ?

Even Shen Junyu looked up, finding it hard to believe. Would Shen Du really send his precious son to be a concubine? Was this still the same man who treated Siyuan like his lifeblood? He felt a moment of daze.

Meng Xingyan laughed. “And it gets better. The Sword Sovereign had actually tacitly approved, but then Young Master Yuan stood up. He said that as long as his engagement with the eldest Shen son wasn’t dissolved, he wouldn’t marry anyone else. He refused to give up on him unless it was proven he had truly turned to the demonic path.”

“What a romantic ‘love seed.’ If the Central State is full of such people, our Demon Realm has nothing to fear.”

Shen Junyu’s expression turned complex. Beside him, Wen Su gave a cold laugh. Meng Xingyan and Shen Junyu both looked at him. Wen Su, usually eloquent, spoke only eight words in a chillingly calm voice.

“If he knew it would come to this, why act that way then?”

Shen Junyu was stunned. After a long moment, he offered a faint smile, his eyes as clear as a mirror.