They Are Archenemies, But They Have A Child - Chapter 103

Chapter 103: Succession

Lush bamboo forests were wreathed in a faint white mist. The gurgling sound of water echoed through the grove.

Yun Qingwu and Leng Licí leaned back in the Jade Spring, feeling the warm water flow over their bodies. At the same time, the spiritual energy circulating within them felt smoother than ever before.

Yun Qingwu turned to look at Leng Licí. “How is it? Are you less angry now?”

Leng Licí kept his eyes closed. “I wasn’t angry.”

Yun Qingwu chuckled softly and rubbed against him. “Fine, you weren’t angry.”

Leng Licí opened his eyes and glanced at the person on his shoulder. “After the investigation begins, what are your plans? After all these years, are you sure any evidence will remain?”

Yun Qingwu placed his full weight on Leng Licí, saying heavily, “If there is no evidence, then we will create evidence.”

Leng Licí frowned, looking at his palms, which were turning slightly red from the spring water. “If we had powerful enough ability, there would be no need for such trouble.”

Yun Qingwu looked at the missing fingers on Leng Licí’s right hand. He reached out and covered it, gently stroking it. “I never asked you, what happened to your fingers?”

Leng Licí allowed Yun Qingwu’s touch, saying carelessly, “The Hanging Mirror needed to be completely destroyed, and to do that, its regeneration mechanism had to be broken. After I eliminated the Tāotiè, I severed the flesh from this finger and swallowed it.”

Yun Qingwu felt a pang of heartache, gently stroking the chains bound around it. A hundred years had passed, but he could still imagine Leng Licí’s desperation at that time.

A slight breeze blew through. The two fell silent, leaving only the sound of peach blossoms rustling and dripping into the Jade Spring.

Leng Licí noticed Yun Qingwu’s slightly lowered spirits. He held Yun Qingwu’s hand in return, leaned over, and pressed him between the jade wall and himself.

“Ultimately, cultivation is the most useful thing. Instead of dwelling on the past, let’s do something meaningful.”

With that, Leng Licí kissed him without preamble.

The heat of skin-on-skin contact made it impossible for Yun Qingwu to think about the troubled past or future. He wrapped his arms around Leng Licí’s waist and kissed him back.

Ripples spread and faded in the misty water, enveloping the originally serene bamboo forest in a pink, enchanting haze.

…

The following days in the Heavenly Realm were spent quietly. The two stayed mostly within the Clear Cloud Palace. Time quickly arrived at the day before the contract ceremony.

Yún Yǎ specifically returned to the Heavenly Realm a day early and came to the Clear Cloud Palace with Yún Chuān.

Yún Yǎ: “Qingwu, once you bring up the matter of the Nánzé Kingdom tomorrow, it will surely cause an uproar. But Auntie hopes that no matter what you hear, you won’t be overly disappointed. Your Father God, Grandmother, and I will do our best to help you.”

Yun Qingwu nodded. “Thank you, Auntie.”

Yún Yǎ then looked at Leng Licí. She was unsure how to interact with this close nephew and said cautiously, “Little Cí, the scene tomorrow will definitely be extremely chaotic. How about you stay by my side?”

Leng Licí looked away. “I don’t need anyone to watch over me.”

“It’s not watching over, it’s that we need to minimize unforeseen circumstances. Hóng Yuān’s identity is insufficient to enter the Ling Xiao Palace. But I think you would want to watch over Qingwu. If you don’t join us as the personal guard of Kǒng Yùn and Yún Dì, it might easily raise Father God’s suspicion.”

Yún Yǎ looked at Yún Chuān as she spoke.

Yún Chuān nodded. “Having your two nephews nearby will distract most of the attention, and you can rest assured watching over Qingwu.”

Hearing this, Leng Licí no longer objected, tacitly accepting the arrangement.

Yún Chuān was about to say something else when a summons order flew into the hall. The Heavenly Emperor’s voice sounded: “Qingwu, come to the Heavenly Origin Palace.”

Yún Chuān and Yún Yǎ exchanged glances, both unsure why the Heavenly Emperor would summon Qingwu at this moment.

“Does Father God know that you have recovered your memory?”

Yún Yǎ looked at Yun Qingwu with some concern.

Yun Qingwu shook his head. “Since returning to the Heavenly Realm, the Heavenly Emperor has not summoned me. He shouldn’t know.”

Yún Chuān grasped Yun Qingwu’s arm, cautioning him, “In any case, you must be careful.”

Yun Qingwu nodded. “I will.”

“I am going with you,” Leng Licí said, his tone brooking no argument.

Yún Chuān and Yún Yǎ were hesitant, but Yún Chuān knew that once Leng Licí decided on something, they couldn’t persuade him otherwise. He suggested, “If you want to go, you cannot go in your current appearance. This kind of illusion cannot fool Father God’s eyes.”

Leng Licí took out a round storage pouch. “What’s difficult about that?”

As soon as he spoke, he turned into a speck of light and flew into the storage pouch.

Yún Chuān recognized the storage pouch as the Seal-less Bag, which could hold all things. He bent down, picked up the Seal-less Bag, and handed it to Yun Qingwu. “With Little Cí accompanying you, we can be more at ease.”

Yun Qingwu placed the Seal-less Bag inside his robe. “Then I will go now.”

Yún Chuān and Yún Yǎ nodded.

…

During non-council times, the main hall of the Heavenly Origin Palace was always extraordinarily desolate. Even when specially lit by lamps, it was difficult to dispel the coldness.

Yun Qingwu pushed open the hall door. The first thing he saw was the Heavenly Emperor standing with his hands behind his back beneath the high platform.

“You’ve arrived?”

Yun Qingwu bowed in salute. “Grandfather God.”

The Heavenly Emperor replied, turned to his side. “Come stand by Grandfather God.”

Yun Qingwu walked forward and stood parallel to the Heavenly Emperor. At this moment, the Heavenly Emperor looked even younger than before, his height reaching only Yun Qingwu’s elbow.

Yun Qingwu was filled with mixed emotions, unsure what to say.

The Heavenly Emperor raised his chin slightly. “Qingwu, take a seat up there.”

Yun Qingwu turned to look at the Heavenly Emperor. “Grandfather God, I have not yet succeeded to the throne; I am only the Lord Prime.”

The Heavenly Emperor walked forward on his own, sitting on the Emperor’s throne. He looked down at his young hands. “Grandfather God does not have much time left. The future of the Yún Clan depends on you, Qingwu. Today, Grandfather God needs you to know what this position truly means.”

With that, he waved his hand toward Yun Qingwu again. “Come closer.”

Yun Qingwu no longer refused and walked forward.

The Heavenly Emperor shifted his position, allowing Yun Qingwu to sit down beside him. He stroked the jade armrest carved into the shape of a flame. “In the mortal world, every dynastic succession is a change of power. They scheme with both open and hidden plots for that seemingly supreme authority, relatives and siblings slaughtering each other. With a slight misstep, gold can instantly turn into mud. Do you know the fundamental reason for this phenomenon?”

Yun Qingwu: “What is it?”

“It is the lack of ability for the person in power to maintain sustained stability.” The Heavenly Emperor gripped the “flame.” “If they had this ability, then one dynasty would be enough. With all parties stable in their positions, there would be no possibility of fighting or losing control. In this way, all crises can naturally be minimized.”

Yun Qingwu frowned slightly. “Human nature is complex and ever-changing, making true stability difficult to achieve.”

The Heavenly Emperor turned to look at Yun Qingwu, his eyes fervent. “So, what they need to do is simplify this complexity. Since the three realms were formed, everything our Yún Clan has done has been for this purpose, which is why we have enjoyed hundreds of millions of years of stability. And it is the responsibility of this position, and the obligation you must take over, Qingwu, to continue this order. Do you understand?”

Yun Qingwu’s eyes trembled slightly. He knew that agreeing at this moment was the safest course of action, but he still wanted to ask, “Grandfather God, why is it only us who can do this?”

The Heavenly Emperor stood up, patted Yun Qingwu’s shoulder, signaling him not to move. Then he walked down toward the platform, standing where the gods usually stood. He asked, “Look, doesn’t looking down on a person feel better than looking up? You can only see further when standing in a high position. If you don’t control everything, you will become the fish controlled by others. You have seen the end of the Nánzé Kingdom. If this position is not ours, then our fate will not be different from that of the Nánzé people.”

The Heavenly Emperor looked at Yun Qingwu meaningfully. “Qingwu, you don’t have much time left. Sit in this position tonight and carefully contemplate what Grandfather God has said.”

With that, the Heavenly Emperor did not give Yun Qingwu another chance to speak. He turned and walked out of the hall.

Yun Qingwu tightly gripped the armrest, the veins on his wrist protruding from the effort, barely stopping himself from pursuing the matter further.

The fate of the Nánzé Kingdom…

If not for the stability of the Yún Clan, they could still have settled in peace. Why would they meet such an end? Sacrificing the interests of others for one’s own benefit—how could it be considered so natural?

“Self-righteous hypocrisy.”

A hand covered Yun Qingwu’s left hand. Leng Licí’s body suddenly pressed close, trapping Yun Qingwu between the Emperor’s throne and his own body.

Yun Qingwu’s thoughts returned. He looked up at Leng Licí, the tension in his mind easing slightly. “I thought the Demon Lord would agree with this theory of the strong.”

Leng Licí knelt on one knee on the jade throne, looking down at Yun Qingwu with a sneer. “A true powerful being doesn’t need to go to such lengths. Those who maintain their status by suppressing others are merely timid cowards.”

The candlelight in the hall flickered, casting shadows that made Leng Licí’s face half-dark, half-bright.

A few strands of his red hair fell, seeming to carve streaks of blood on the pure white jade throne.

Yun Qingwu looked at Leng Licí’s sharp eyes. His gaze shifted. He turned his hand over, interlocking his fingers with Leng Licí’s. “Then shall we overthrow it?”

A determined light shone in his usually gentle eyes. Leng Licí squeezed Yun Qingwu’s hand, the corner of his mouth slightly curved. “Good.”

With that, the two simultaneously kissed each other.

Yun Qingwu retreated slightly, his back leaning tightly against the jade chair’s backrest, making space for Leng Licí. Leng Licí leaned over and pressed down.

Their neat robes gradually became messy, hanging loosely on their bodies.

In the vast hall, only the sound of heavy, ambiguous breathing and the flickering candlelight remained.

What does the jade throne matter? What does power matter?

At this moment, it was merely their bed.

“Qingwu.”

Footsteps suddenly sounded outside the previously quiet door. The Heavenly Emperor’s voice echoed through the hall door.

Yun Qingwu’s expression froze. His back involuntarily stiffened. He held his breath, stifling the gasps that were about to escape.

Leng Licí’s movements, however, showed no sign of stopping. Instead, they became even fiercer than before.

“Answer him,” Leng Licí bit Yun Qingwu’s collarbone.

Yun Qingwu let out a muffled groan. The faint apprehension in his heart was replaced by the excitement of the stimulation. He raised his legs and wrapped them around the waist of the person above him.

The Heavenly Emperor’s voice came again from outside: “The contract ceremony tomorrow is very important. It is not advisable for you to stay up too late tonight.”

Yun Qingwu wrapped his right arm around Leng Licí’s neck. He allowed their bodies to be intimately entwined, but his voice betrayed no hint of what was happening. He said steadily, “I understand, Grandfather God.”

The footsteps outside faded away again, finally returning to true silence.

“A-Cí—harder!”

When Yun Qingwu spoke again, his voice was already slightly broken, but he still felt it wasn’t enough.

“As you wish.”

Leng Licí half-held him in his arms. The two pressed against the backrest of the jade throne. Yun Qingwu uncontrollably arched his neck backward, no longer suppressing the desire in his heart.

Lustful sounds, rising higher and higher, brazenly invaded the Heavenly Origin Palace, which was solemn and inviolable during the day.

Hierarchy, power, responsibility, and obligation—all became nothingness at this moment.

The sun would eventually rise again, but their night was still very long.