They Are Archenemies, But They Have A Child - Chapter 75

Chapter 75: Spark

Liu Yu walked in, curiously examining the lanterns. Noticing Cui You’s expression, he patted his shoulder with a feeling of shared misery. “You’ll get used to it. Our son isn’t too fond of his father.”

Then, he pointed at Yun Qingwu. “But it doesn’t matter. Our adopted son is very filial.”

Yun Qingwu explained, “A-Cí needs time.”

At this, Liu Yu rubbed his nose, thinking of last night. “Yesterday, I overstepped. I apologize.”

Yun Qingwu looked at Cui You and then at Liu Yu, saying seriously, “There are many things you may not understand now, but when everything returns to normal, I believe you will naturally comprehend.”

Cui You withdrew his gaze and nodded. “I know. He must have his reasons, and I don’t mind.”

Yun Qingwu’s eyes involuntarily rested on Cui You’s face. Unlike the stark difference with Liu Yu, he could now find a trace of Father God’s shadow in Cui You’s expression, yet there were things that were slightly different.

For example, Father God had never looked at him this way.

“Qingwu?” Perhaps the duration of the gaze drew Cui You’s attention. Cui You called out, puzzled.

Yun Qingwu snapped back to reality, holding the Kongming lanterns as he walked out. “I’ll take these outside first.”

Cui You and Liu Yu also took a few lanterns each and walked out together.

“Why did you take these lanterns out again!” Outside, Cui Ming furiously pointed at the lanterns in Cui You’s hands. “Are you getting sick again?! Put them back!”

Cui You stood firm. “Dad, I’m not sick. These Kongming lanterns were originally prepared for Yuè’er. Now, I just want to complete this matter.”

Hearing this, Cui Ming’s emotions immediately exploded. He rushed forward, trying to snatch the lanterns from Cui You’s hands, shouting angrily, “Why won’t you listen to me? I’ve provided you with food and clothes all these years! Why can’t you just listen to me! If my son Cui You were still alive, why would I have to endure this? My Cui You absolutely cannot be a lunatic!”

Cui You dodged, unwilling to hand over the lanterns or hurt the elderly man. “Dad! I know I can’t be the real Cui You, but Dad, I have been trying hard to be Cui You.”

“Only Yuè’er… only Yuè’er is the obsession I can’t let go of. Just this once, Dad, can you let me be myself?”

Cui Ming’s snatching motion paused. He looked up, panting, at the son who was now a head taller than him, and nodded. “Fine. If you want to be yourself, leave the Cui family. Never come back!”

With that, Cui Ming flung his sleeve and left the courtyard without looking back.

Cui You stood motionless, watching Cui Ming’s retreating back for a long time.

The small courtyard instantly fell silent, leaving only the uneven sound of Cui Ming’s footsteps and the rustling sound of leaves softly falling.

Yun Qingwu was still frozen mid-step. He had been about to intervene to separate them, but the argument ended as abruptly as it began. He looked at Cui You, unsure what to say for a moment.

Liu Yu stood holding his lanterns, also motionless. The envy he initially felt for Cui You had completely vanished at this moment.

The three fell into silence until Cui You moved his foot and managed a smile. “Let’s go. Whether sooner or later, we have to leave eventually.”

Yun Qingwu nodded, said nothing more, and continued moving the Kongming lanterns.

…

In the evening, with the few people present leaving, the already quiet Cui residence became even more silent, with only the sound of cicadas and the occasional clucking from the chicken coop providing any noise.

Leng Licí sat in the room, eyes closed, meditating, but he constantly found his mind wandering. As he repeatedly reeled in his drifting thoughts, his brow furrowed deeper, and his heart grew more restless.

Just as this restlessness was about to reach its peak, the door was pushed open with a “bang.”

Yun Qingwu’s voice rang out, “A-Cí, come with me.”

Without explanation, Yun Qingwu grabbed Leng Licí’s hand, intending to pull him up forcibly.

Leng Licí struggled free, refusing to rise, his tone gloomy. “I said, I don’t want to go!”

“We’re not going to see Cui You,” Yun Qingwu explained.

Leng Licí stopped struggling and looked at Yun Qingwu with suspicion. “Then where are you taking me?”

“Yuèlín City is by the lake. For lovers, boating on the lake is a delight. We are leaving tomorrow. Wouldn’t it be a shame not to try it and follow local custom?”

The sunset glow streamed through the half-open window, casting a bright sheen in Yun Qingwu’s eyes, adding clarity to his handsome face. Leng Licí looked at Yun Qingwu like this, and for once, the refusal he wanted to speak was difficult to vocalize.

Seeing Leng Licí’s lack of response, Yun Qingwu simply took him by the hand and led him out. This time, Leng Licí didn’t struggle. He got up obediently and followed him out the door.

In the room two doors away, Yang Yuanli stood by the window, staring distastefully at the backs of the two leaving hand-in-hand. He turned to go back to his seat, but before he could sit down, he changed his mind and followed them out.

However, he did not follow Yun Qingwu and Leng Licí. Instead, he headed towards the riverbank where Cui You planned to release the Kongming lanterns.

…

The last rays of the setting sun gradually disappeared into the night. Only a few people remained on the road, and the market stalls were all packed up, leaving only empty spaces.

After the Qǐqiǎo Festival, the night in Yuèlín City returned to its usual stillness.

Jade Lake was also quiet, with only a single small boat drifting on the entire surface.

On the shore, Yun Qingwu pointed to the small painted boat. “There, that’s our boat.”

He turned to Leng Licí. “Shall we go?”

Leng Licí scrutinized the boat. A small wooden table sat on the deck, and the food on it was still steaming. He gave a soft “Hmph.” “You certainly prepared well.”

With that, he soared onto the boat.

Yun Qingwu followed closely behind.

The two sat down on opposite sides of the small table. On the table was simmering chicken soup, along with a few savory and vegetarian dishes with a sweet and sour flavor. Leng Licí’s gaze landed on the table. He raised an eyebrow. “You made this?”

Yun Qingwu neither confirmed nor denied. “You haven’t tasted it yet. How do you know I made it?”

Leng Licí picked up his chopsticks and grabbed a piece of sugar-glazed lotus root, his tone quite proud. “Because this Lord’s sense of smell is keen.”

Yun Qingwu chuckled lightly. “I think—it’s because my culinary skill is unique enough.”

Leng Licí “hmphed.” “Passable.”

“To receive such a compliment from the Demon Lord is certainly an affirmation for me.” Seeing Leng Licí’s non-stop chopsticks, Yun Qingwu’s heart felt warm.

The night breeze was gentle, lightly rustling their hair. Leng Licí’s restless heart finally found peace at this moment.

With their combined effort, the food was quickly finished. Yun Qingwu moved the table aside and lay flat on the deck, inviting Leng Licí. “Come here.”

Leng Licí looked at the deck, looking quite disdainful.

Yun Qingwu clicked his tongue. “Don’t worry, I cast a cleansing spell on it.”

Only then did Leng Licí reluctantly lie down. The moment he lay down, the originally dark sky was filled with one lit Kongming lantern after another rising into the air.

Against the backdrop of the dark night, the scenes of life painted on the Kongming lanterns were vivid, like a long and peaceful scroll of memories.

Leng Licí’s eyes darkened. “Is this why you insisted on bringing me to see this?”

Yun Qingwu turned his head to look at Leng Licí. “No, I intended to offer a gift by utilizing this scene.”

Saying this, Yun Qingwu opened his palm. On his palm was a miniaturized, complete shell of a White Zé horn, tied with a black braided cord, suitable for wearing around the neck as a decoration.

“This is my Qǐqiǎo Festival gift for you. A White Zé’s horn sheds only once every three hundred years. The person who possesses it gains the right to command the White Zé. Now, I give it to you.”

Leng Licí’s gaze focused on the golden White Zé horn, his expression startled.

“Such an important item, and you give it away so easily?”

Yun Qingwu propped himself up and unfolded the black cord. “How is it easy? In these six hundred years, this is the only time I’ve given it away. Besides, how are you ‘someone else’?”

Yun Qingwu nudged Leng Licí with his leg. “Get up, I’ll put it on you.”

Leng Licí stared at Yun Qingwu for a long time, then slowly propped himself up, saying coldly, “If you give it to me, there will be no possibility of taking it back.”

Yun Qingwu reached out and draped the white horn around Leng Licí’s neck, weaving his long hair through the black cord, and finally tying a secure knot. He smiled and affirmed, “Naturally.”

After putting it on, Yun Qingwu lay back down. He tugged at Leng Licí’s hand. “Thousands of Kongming lanterns—are you really not going to appreciate them properly?”

Leng Licí looked up at the sky. The originally silent and monotonous night sky, as the Kongming lanterns ascended, became studded with countless sparks. They replaced the original starlight, becoming a more dazzling existence.

And behind them, an endless stream of sparks continued to rise, carrying the ambition to dominate the night sky.

The lights reflected in Leng Licí’s eyes, flickering and gradually dissolving the coldness within them.

He allowed Yun Qingwu’s pull to settle him down, and he gave a soft “Hmph.” “Since it’s part of your borrowed offering, why wouldn’t I appreciate it?”

The lantern light skipped across the lake, leaving fragmented specks of light on the surface. A gentle breeze blew, shattering the reflection and stirring up a lake full of starlight.

Leng Licí watched the sparks with a serene expression. Despite the distance, the images on the lanterns were reduced to indistinct black lines, yet, for some reason, those lines seemed to come alive, spontaneously forming scenes in Leng Licí’s mind.

He was unwilling to admit that his parents might have had genuine affection.

But as he looked at these thousand Kongming lanterns and the unique hopes carried on them, the protective shell he had built around himself, like a copper wall and iron barrier, developed an involuntary crack.

“Mortal life is beautiful, isn’t it?” Yun Qingwu stared blankly at the sky full of sparks, chuckling softly.

Leng Licí’s gaze remained fixed. “Passable.”

“I’ve loved these fireworks of the mortal realm since a long time ago. I think their lives are vivid everywhere, very different from the cold solemnity of the Celestial Realm.”

“You know, when I was young, I envied Meng Huǎng. I envied that he was born out of love, not just responsibility and duty.”

Yun Qingwu put his hands behind his head, reminiscing. “Although everyone said my parents were the only exception in the Celestial Realm, I never truly felt it. I was no different from anyone else.”

“But if Cui You is a shadow of Father God, then at least it means Father God truly was the exception once.”

Yun Qingwu drew a line across the sky full of sparks. “Look, how much he resembles a real person right now—a pure mortal with seven emotions and six desires.”

Leng Licí shifted his gaze to Yun Qingwu’s eyes. The usually carefree eyes were now filled with starlight, yet lacking a trace of warmth.

He suddenly leaned over and pressed down, blocking Yun Qingwu’s view, ensuring that only himself was reflected in Yun Qingwu’s eyes.

“What’s so rare about seven emotions and six desires? I think you’re much better than that Yun Chuān.”

The warm body temperature shielded Yun Qingwu from the chill breeze over the lake and dissipated the inexplicable melancholy that had surged up. His eyes curved into a smile, and he tilted his head. “Really?”

Leng Licí looked away, saying stiffly, “What? Don’t you believe it?”

Yun Qingwu leaned in, one arm wrapping around Leng Licí’s back and the other around his neck. Taking him by surprise, he pulled him down, then rolled his body halfway, trapping Leng Licí in his embrace, and leaned down to kiss him.

“Since you said so, of course I believe it.”