The Demon Lord Is Carrying My Child - Chapter 2

Ji Shutao was about to head to the Great Hall with Cun Ming to see their master. Her courtyard and Cun Ming’s were located to the north, while the Great Hall sat in the center. As Ji Shutao walked along the path, she noticed disciples patrolling everywhere, her eyes reflecting a hint of confusion.

“Last night, the Demon Venerable Zhuang Yi ascended the mountain and injured many disciples. Master is afraid she might return, so he has increased the guard,” Cun Ming explained for her.

Ji Shutao nodded. “The Demon Venerable Zhuang Yi is indeed no small matter, but why on earth would she come to Beichen Mountain?”

Beichen Mountain and Cangyou Pavilion to the south were known as the dual pillars of the righteous path one specializing in swordsmanship and the other in incantations. They had countless disciples, and historically, several offensives against the Demon Realm had been led by these two sects. For Zhuang Yi, as the Demon Venerable, coming to Beichen Mountain was no different from walking into a trap.

However, considering she was heavily wounded last night yet still managed to retreat safely, it was clear she was no ordinary person.

Furthermore, in recent years, the various righteous sects had been intent on electing a General Coordinator and had remained at peace with the Demon Realm. With Zhuang Yi ascending the mountain alone, the situation had become delicate. If nothing else, the election of the General Coordinator would certainly be moved forward to prevent any unforeseen variables from the Demon Realm.

“It’s not quite clear. How could you or I possibly fathom the thoughts of those from the Demonic Path? Let’s go.”

Cun Ming strode ahead with large steps, and Ji Shutao could only follow. She glanced back at the disciples, feeling a strong, inexplicable sensation: whatever Zhuang Yi wanted to do, no one could stop her.

Yu Chu had called Cun Ming and Ji Shutao over this time for no other reason than to urge Ji Shutao to recover well and to ensure she didn’t have any thoughts of sneaking down the mountain again.

“Cun Ming, as her Senior Brother, you must keep a close eye on her.”

“Rest assured, Master.”

Ji Shutao sighed and said somewhat dejectedly, “It looks like I can forget about leaving the mountain.”

Yu Chu and Cun Ming exchanged a smile.

As they were about to leave, Ji Shutao asked, “Master, have you found a way to restore my memory yet?”

Yu Chu frowned, looking quite worried. “Not yet. Shutao, are you still having nightmares every night?”

“Yes.”

Looking at his young disciple’s visibly haggard appearance, Yu Chu felt a pang of distress. He coughed slightly. “The calming medicine I gave you is it working?”

“It’s… somewhat useful.”

In truth, the medicine was useless. After drinking it once, Ji Shutao had poured the rest into a flowerpot.

“You must keep taking it. As for your memories… I will find another way.”

“Thank you for your trouble, Master.”

“You little girl, you’ve actually become quite polite now,” Yu Chu teased. In the past, moments where she would obediently listen to him speak were rare; usually, before he was halfway through, she would have already slipped away.

“What are you saying, Master? I have always been like this.”

Ji Shutao winked, her smile full of mischief. Seeing this, Cun Ming felt that there was finally a shadow of her former self.

Back in her courtyard, Ji Shutao pondered what to do for the day. Cun Ming had just tattled to their Master, reporting that she had dared to practice her sword by the waterfall despite her injuries. Now, she was essentially an invalid.

She picked up a few books regarding the Demon Realm to read. Halfway through, before Zhuang Yi had even appeared in the text, she began to feel drowsy.

As she drifted off into a blur, Ji Shutao thought resentfully: Why does the Demon Realm change people so often? Irrelevant people take up most of the pages.

When Ji Shutao woke up again, what she saw was the roof of a carriage. She sat up, feeling a sense of disorientation as if she didn’t know what year it was. After a moment, she realized she was inside a rapidly moving carriage.

It was late at night, and she couldn’t discern her direction at all, though she feared they had already left the boundaries of Beichen Mountain. Ji Shutao rubbed her temples, thinking with some effort: Did I really sleep that long? Who on earth kidnapped me?

Taking advantage of the driver’s focus on the road and the fact that she wasn’t bound, Ji Shutao thought it was the perfect time to escape. However, just as she was about to jump out the window, the speeding carriage came to a sudden halt. Unprepared, Ji Shutao’s head slammed against the carriage wall. The pain made her grimace, and she desperately wanted to curse.

Zhuang Yi lifted the curtain, holding a candle in her hand. “You’re awake.”

Ji Shutao rubbed the back of her head while looking toward the light. “Zhuang Yi?”

“It is I.”

Zhuang Yi entered the carriage and placed the candlestick on the small table inside. She produced a package of snacks from somewhere and handed it to Ji Shutao. “Eat.”

Ji Shutao opened the small bag; it was filled to the brim with osmanthus cakes. She gave Zhuang Yi a wary look. “What do you want?”

“I am pregnant. It’s yours. You said you would take responsibility.”

Ji Shutao didn’t know how Zhuang Yi could keep such a cold face while dropping so much shocking news on her at once. It was simply unreasonable.

Impulsively, Ji Shutao glanced at Zhuang Yi’s stomach. It was flat and smooth with no changes whatsoever. Then, her gaze moved up to meet Zhuang Yi’s eyes, which were as calm as still water.

Ji Shutao suddenly felt a flicker of guilt. She coughed to hide her state of mind before saying, “First, I don’t know you at all. Second, I am a person of pure conduct. Third, a person who abandons others deserves to die.”

Zhuang Yi glanced at her coldly. “What is my name?”

“Zhuang Yi.”

“And who am I?”

“The Demon Venerable.”

“You know my name and are perfectly aware of my identity; you clearly know me.”

Ji Shutao felt that something was wrong somewhere, but she couldn’t find the flaw. She couldn’t have just gained a child out of thin air. She spoke again, “That’s not how it’s calculated. You are the famous Sovereign of the Demon Realm. In the whole world, who doesn’t know you?”

“I don’t care. You must take responsibility. Don’t the disciples of Beichen Mountain always keep their word?”

Why had no one told her before that the Demon Venerable Zhuang Yi was so prone to being difficult? And who was the scoundrel who dared to abandon the Demon Venerable and refuse to take responsibility?

A battle raged in Ji Shutao’s mind. She took a deep breath. “Yes, Beichen disciples always keep their word, but if I never said it, how can I keep it?”

Zhuang Yi lowered her head. Ji Shutao saw something glittering on her face. After a moment, she realized those were tears. The cold-blooded Demon Venerable was actually crying in front of her because of a few words?

“Shutao, you said you would come to fetch me. You lied.”

The voice was soft and wailing, tinged with a sob, unlike the cold tone from before.

“Don’t cry yet. Am I… Am I not right here?” Ji Shutao hurriedly wiped away her tears.

“Two months ago, I lost a portion of my memory. Perhaps it is related to you,” Ji Shutao said after Zhuang Yi had calmed down. She could only judge that her memory was related to Zhuang Yi, but she still didn’t believe that as a disciple of Beichen Mountain, she would be with the Demon Venerable and even have a child.

This was an act that defied her master’s orders and brought shame to the sect. If Yu Chu found out, he would likely beat her to death.

“So now we are going to the West Mountain to seek your memories.”

Legend had it that the West Mountain was uninhabited and that the world’s foremost physician, Liu Wushuang, lived there in seclusion. However, for thousands of years, only those destined to do so could enter the Physician’s Pavilion. Ji Shutao didn’t think she was one of those people.

But Zhuang Yi likely wouldn’t listen to a word she said. Taking it one step at a time, Ji Shutao also really wanted to know what exactly she had forgotten.

Ji Shutao touched the bag of cakes Zhuang Yi had given her and felt something else. She opened the bag, and instantly, the carriage was filled with a sour scent. They were plums. Ji Shutao’s nose twitched; they were incredibly sour.

Zhuang Yi reached out. “Those are mine.”

Zhuang Yi was pregnant, so naturally, she craved sour things.

Ji Shutao suddenly sat up straight, staring fixedly at Zhuang Yi as she ate the plums. “You’re pregnant and you dared to ascend Beichen Mountain twice by yourself?”

“So what? It is one with me. Unless I die, it will not die,” Zhuang Yi said nonchalantly.

Ji Shutao was so angry she felt like fainting. How could there be such a careless mother? Without asking for Zhuang Yi’s permission, she grabbed her hand. Her medical skills were negligible, but she could still check a person’s physical condition.

There was nothing seriously wrong. Ji Shutao breathed a sigh of relief, but the hand of the person before her was so cold unlike a normal person’s. Her coldness could seep directly into one’s bones.

“Is your hand always this cold?”

“I am of the Demon Race. The Demon Race is naturally haunted by cold energy; it is a small matter.”

She always spoke so lightly, not caring about herself at all. If a person like this didn’t have someone watching over them, what would happen?

Zhuang Yi finished half the bag of plums with a crunching sound. Just the smell made Ji Shutao’s teeth ache, let alone eating them.

Zhuang Yi sealed the remaining half of the bag and moved to lift the curtain to go outside. Ji Shutao asked, “What are you doing?”

Zhuang Yi looked back at her. “Traveling.”

“There’s no need to be in such a hurry, is there? Let’s sleep for a while first and continue when it’s light.”

Zhuang Yi had driven them at full speed for two whole hours; surely the people of Beichen Mountain wouldn’t be able to find them now.

Zhuang Yi nodded, and the two of them slept on opposite sides. This time, surprisingly, Ji Shutao had a good night’s sleep, free from any nightmares.

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