The Simp’s Heart is Sealed in Cement; The Demon Lord Falls Hard! - Chapter 12

Before Ye Lin could react, Su Mo continued: “As you know, the entire cultivation world is now Wen Muli’s territory, and it won’t be easy for us to find a place to hide. Therefore, I need you to leave ahead of time to scout locations. Remember, the further away from the Phoenix Capital and the more remote, the better. Don’t pick towns that are too small; choose towns that are prosperous enough to have a large influx of outsiders, as that will make it easier for us to conceal our tracks…”

Ye Lin listened carefully and nodded in complete agreement. Dropping to one knee, she said with utmost sincerity, “Your Highness, rest assured. This servant will certainly live up to your expectations and will definitely find a place suitable for us to live in seclusion!”

“Go. Here is the money for your journey. Once you have everything prepared, contact me using the Sound Transmission Stone,” Su Mo instructed with a smile, placing a storage ring into her palm.

Ye Lin did not delay for even a moment; she rose immediately to pack her belongings. Su Mo watched her back, his eyes brimming with reluctance, and silently said goodbye in his heart: I’m sorry, Linlin. I have deceived you! In the future… you must live well, find a lover, start a family of your own, and live your own life—not like now, spending your whole life living for him…

His tone filled with regret, he slowly stroked the scale on his chest. I have made arrangements for Linlin, but unfortunately… I won’t be able to say goodbye to you, Xiao Xiao.

What surfaced in his mind was his first meeting with Xiao Xiao. After Hao Yeshu died, he had been confined to the bamboo forest on the back mountain by a furious Wen Muli. There, he had encountered the “little snake,” scorched black by heavenly lightning and on the verge of death. This little snake was different from the snakes he had seen in the real world. It had two small bumps on its head and four limbs beneath its belly—it was a snake, but it also resembled a gecko from the real world!

Knowing that there was nothing strange about the cultivation world, Su Mo naturally assumed it was a mutated species of snake. The prompt card had notified him that he must save this little snake, and out of compassion, he had done so, caring for it daily and naming it Xiao Xiao.

When it first woke up, Xiao Xiao was full of aggression and even bit him. He had thick skin and flesh, so the little snake couldn’t hurt him; instead, he was more worried that the little fellow would break its teeth on his tough skin. Xiao Xiao was the coldest animal he had ever seen—far more aloof than a cat. Cats would have moments of affection, but that little snake never gave him a pleasant look. He had used every ounce of his strength to finally get Xiao Xiao to accept him as its “master.”

Thinking back now, those days spent with Xiao Xiao were the happiest times of his life. It was a pity he hadn’t been able to see Xiao Xiao transform. It was only later that he understood the disdain in Xiao Xiao’s eyes when it first opened them. It was a dragon, yet he, an ignorant human, had mistaken it for a lowly snake; who else would it despise if not him!

Recalling the past, Su Mo smiled foolishly, though his gaze became increasingly despondent and reluctant. Xiao Xiao was destined to be the regret and longing of this life. And tonight, it was destined to be a sleepless one.

Early the next morning, the Human Emperor held a grand wedding, and the entire nation celebrated. In the sky above the Phoenix Capital, colorful Li birds cleared the path. Li birds were a tenth-level demon beast, an extremely rare spiritual pet that looked like a phoenix but were much smaller. They were auspicious beasts that could find treasure; one could say they were hard to come by, yet there were hundreds of them above the Phoenix Capital now, which was enough to show the importance the Human Emperor placed on his new male consort!

Following the fiery red Li birds, Wen Muli wore a bright red wedding robe, riding a Unicorn Smoke Beast amidst auspicious clouds. The delicate man the people had seen not long ago was also dressed in a bright red wedding robe, wearing an extremely luxurious phoenix coronet, seated in a red gauze sedan carried by four Green-maned Horses, accepting the kowtows and blessings of the people.

On the ground, a massive sea of commoners knelt, kowtowing while shouting: “Congratulations to the Human Emperor on his grand wedding! Long live the Emperor, ten thousand years! May the Consort live for one thousand years…”

After the wedding procession circled the Phoenix Capital, it slowly advanced toward the imperial palace. Below, the discussions of the crowd were incessant.

“Indeed, one only sees the newcomer smile, never the old one cry. When the Emperor married back then, there was no grand ceremony, but this Consort Xian has received the treatment of an Empress. I fear it won’t be long before the Empress is replaced!”

“Nonsense. Only the truly favored are kept hidden. The reason the Human Emperor kept the Empress hidden so deep must be because he feared he would be harmed. He is subtly shifting the hatred toward Consort Xian. To put it bluntly, this Consort Xian is probably just a decoy to confuse the enemy.”

“That seems to make some sense. Tsk tsk tsk, I must say, although this Consort Xian is a man, his beauty is no less than that of a woman. If I were the Human Emperor, I would willingly fall for him too.”

“If a mere Consort Xian who appears in public has such beauty, wouldn’t the Empress be a celestial being come to earth?!”

“A bunch of ignorant fools. I heard from a relative of mine who works in the palace that the male Empress has nothing to do with being ‘stunning.’ Rumor has it he is as ugly as Zhong Kui and extremely frightening…”

“Bullshit! If he were truly a man without beauty, how could he have gained the Human Emperor’s favor?”

“Naturally, because the Human Emperor has a deep emotional bond with him!”

“I heard from someone familiar in the palace that the male Empress wasn’t born ugly, but was disfigured!”

“Disfigured? Hiss… that reminds me of someone!”

“You don’t mean the Great General Su Mo, do you? He’s the only one by the Emperor’s side who was disfigured, isn’t he?”

“Heaven… could the male Empress be the Great General?”

“Impossible, the Great General perished in the final battle to save the Human Emperor. Don’t talk nonsense; that’s disrespectful to the General.”

The wedding was so grand that it sparked rampant speculation. They were curious about the relationship between the Human Emperor and his two consorts, and even more curious about the true identity of the legendary Empress. Opinions varied, but still, no one took to heart the idea that the Empress was the Great General Su Mo. Because that would be an insult to the Great General. Children might not be familiar with Su Mo, but in the hearts of the older generation, Su Mo’s prestige was higher than that of the Human Emperor Wen Muli! He was a god of war, a great hero; a man of such fortitude could absolutely never submit beneath any man!

On the square where the ceremony was held, the leaders of the major sects had all arrived. The civil and military officials were also waiting in battle array. The majestic horns sounded, and the long, drawn-out announcements began.

“His Majesty has arrived… The new Consort has arrived…”

As the words rang out, Wen Muli held Yan Yichen’s hand, stepping along the red carpet toward the high platform, step by step. On the high platform, Su Mo, dressed in grand regalia, held the Imperial Seal, quietly gazing at the pair walking toward him. The distance between them grew smaller and smaller, closer and closer. Eventually, the newlyweds stood before him.

Yan Yichen’s eyes brimmed with unease, guilt, joy, and anticipation of his new marriage. Wen Muli, meanwhile, maintained an indifferent expression, showing neither joy nor anger.

Su Mo lifted his lips slightly, took the document handed over by a eunuch nearby, and began to chant it aloud. His low, sexy voice entered the ears of everyone present.

“A three-life fate tied in the east of the sea, two innocents with shared ambitions. The grand foundation of the career is now laid, and glory and wealth are like the noonday sun. Two sincere hearts woven together like brocade, eternal happiness nurtured by the master’s grace. Marriage ritual, red silks tied together… First kowtow to heaven and earth…”

Wen Muli held Yan Yichen’s hand, turned, and bowed toward the sky.

“Second kowtow to the gods…”

Wen Muli and Yan Yichen bowed toward the sky once more.

“Husband and wife kowtow to each other…”

The two turned to face each other and bowed; one was full of deep affection, the other incredibly shy.

“Ceremony complete… Congratulations to His Majesty on taking a new consort. This is the Imperial Seal; I shall hand it over to Consort Xian. From now on, His Majesty is entrusted to your care!”

Su Mo smiled brilliantly, as if entrusting an orphan, and placed the seal firmly into Yan Yichen’s palm.