Pregnant with the Immortal Venerable's Child After Divorce - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Signed!

Wen Sucheng’s words were frank and direct, but Yan Zhu was already used to it and didn’t act coy. He just nodded very lightly and asked, “Shall we go?”

Wen Sucheng didn’t answer. He simply got up and followed him in the direction of the bathhouse.

When they said bathing, it was truly just bathing. There was no ambiguity when they took off their clothes, and none when they soaked in the water together.

Yan Zhu sat in the water, fiddling with the petals floating on the surface, his gaze occasionally drifting towards the part of Wen Sucheng hidden beneath the water.

The transparent water reflected the color of the petals, shimmering gently. He could vaguely yet clearly see that there seemed to be no movement in that area.

Yan Zhu couldn’t help but pout. He turned his eyes to stare at the lamp placed on the side. The blue tassels hanging from the eight corners blocked a bit of the light. Unfortunately, the lampshade was white, completely plain, and even with bright pearls accompanying it, it looked very insipid.

After soaking for a while, Yan Zhu put on his nightgown and returned to the room with Wen Sucheng.

It wasn’t until the two of them lay down on the bed that he noticed the change in Wen Sucheng.

Yan Zhu looked for a few moments, then reached out to him.

Wen Sucheng bent down and exchanged a kiss with him, his hand also moving downwards.

Wen Sucheng had wielded a sword for years, and his hands had rough calluses from the sword, which had a strong presence when brushing against delicate skin—it didn’t hurt, but it was very tantalizing.

Yan Zhu actually couldn’t stand this part of Wen Sucheng’s technique. He wanted Wen Sucheng to start immediately, but Wen Sucheng insisted on letting him have his turn first every time. No matter what he said, it was useless. After so many times, he stopped arguing and just waited impatiently for this ordeal to pass. Tonight was no exception.

When Yan Zhu reached his refractory period, Wen Sucheng bent down and kissed him. Yan Zhu could clearly smell the scent on Wen Sucheng—it was cold, a little bitter, like a herb garden covered with fresh snow.

Yan Zhu was very familiar with this scent, but Wen Sucheng didn’t have the habit of burning incense. For a moment, he couldn’t recall where this scent came from. Did he pick it up while working?

While he was spacing out, a hand suddenly slipped under his nightgown, and Yan Zhu stiffened all over.

He had recovered.

Wen Sucheng traced him inch by inch, as if appreciating an exquisite painting, until the soft nightgown fell to the floor, the fabric making a subtle sound.

A petal carried up from the water landed on Yan Zhu, like it had been blown onto snow in winter.

Wen Sucheng picked up the petal and crushed it with a slight force. The vivid color instantly bloomed, then quickly washed away with sweat, revealing the inviting pink underneath.

Yan Zhu was completely submerged in the quilt, weakly clinging to Wen Sucheng’s arm, his eyes somewhat vacant as he looked up. He couldn’t see the swaying lamplight, only Wen Sucheng’s handsome face.

The lamps had gone out at some point, leaving only a faint light twining around his face, falling into his eyes, like a very weak, frozen flame. Yan Zhu couldn’t tell if it was lust, and before he could look closer, a shadow fell over him.

Wen Sucheng kissed him again.

It wasn’t until the dead of night that Yan Zhu, wrapped in the quilt, nestled in his arms and faintly called him “Senior Brother.”

Wen Sucheng held his waist and whispered, “Sleep.”

Yan Zhu felt a little uncomfortable on his body and squirmed restlessly in his arms a few times. His hand accidentally brushed against a certain area, only to find that it was completely still again.

He immediately felt puzzled, thinking that this part of Wen Sucheng was quite obedient—it rose when it should, and when it shouldn’t, it seemed dead.

But this thought only lasted for a moment, quickly swept away by drowsiness, disappearing into the boundless dream.

When he woke up the next morning, Wen Sucheng was already gone. Another man was sitting on the floor beside the bed, leaning against it and reading a book.

Yan Zhu was stunned for a moment, then shuffled closer and poked his head out. His gaze fell on the pages being turned, and he immediately saw his and Wen Sucheng’s names. He was instantly speechless: “Qi Ranyin, where did you find this storybook now?”

Qi Ranyin paused his hand movement, turned to Yan Zhu, and gave him a smile. His pair of fox-like eyes were curved and quite alluring, and even his voice was charmingly silky: “I was walking down the street last night, thinking of you, when I saw your name and immediately bought it.”

Yan Zhu reached out from under the quilt and took the book. He opened the cover and saw written on it, “The Aloof Immortal Venerable Spoils Me Rotten After Divorce.”

“Where does it say my name?” Yan Zhu said.

“Divorce is about you.” Qi Ranyin said, reaching out and tapping lightly on Yan Zhu’s arm, “It was intense last night.”

Yan Zhu followed his hand and looked at the several marks pinched on his skin, remembering the way Senior Brother had clasped his arm last night. His ears immediately felt hot, and he quickly retracted his hand into the quilt, saying, “I need to change!”

Qi Ranyin rolled his eyes at the remark: “The Immortal Venerable isn’t afraid of me taking advantage of you, what are you afraid of?” Although he said this, he still got up and sat in front of the dressing table, looking through the cosmetic box. “He bought you something new again.”

“I don’t know.” Yan Zhu got out of bed and explained while getting dressed, “He went to deal with an incident involving a minor sect before, only came back the night before last, and didn’t say anything.”

Qi Ranyin hummed and picked out a hairpin from inside, dangling it: “This doesn’t suit you, give it to me?”

Yan Zhu followed his gaze and saw that Qi Ranyin was holding a hairpin made of seven-colored stones inlaid into a large flower. It was tacky and an eyesore, something he would never wear in his life, but he still refused: “No.”

“Not even if I trade you?” Qi Ranyin said, putting the hairpin back. “The Immortal Venerable is good in all aspects, except for his taste in choosing things… I suspect he just bought all the unsold stock from the store for you.”

Yan Zhu’s expression stiffened upon hearing this. After a few seconds of silence, he sighed: “You have to allow him to have flaws.”

“Then he has quite a few flaws.” Qi Ranyin said, taking out jewelry from his Qiankun ring and covering up the eye-sore jewelry in Yan Zhu’s box. “Do you really want to divorce him?”

“Mmm…” Yan Zhu straightened his collar and mumbled, “If it weren’t for my parents back then, he wouldn’t have married me.”

“But he agreed to it. You’ve gotten along well all these years,” Qi Ranyin said. “Although he doesn’t use those flowery tactics, he’s virtuous and good to you. Isn’t that good enough?”

Yan Zhu walked behind him, stared at the person in the mirror, and asked, “What if you had to marry someone like that?”

“No, thank you.” Qi Ranyin answered without hesitation. “I would be bored to death. It’s better now. Date when you like, move on when you don’t.”

Yan Zhu raised an eyebrow and remained silent.

Qi Ranyin sighed helplessly, pulled him to sit next to him, and advised: “You are you, I am me. How can they be the same? Besides, my cultivation method doesn’t allow for monogamy, but you are different. With the Immortal Venerable as your lu ding (furnace/cauldron, referring to a cultivation partner), you don’t need to look for men outside.”

“What lu ding, it’s just a dual-cultivation method.” Yan Zhu pouted, “But treating it like practicing cultivation is very boring.”

Qi Ranyin glanced at him: “Two months ago, you were telling me how amazing he was.”

“Was I? I don’t think so.” Yan Zhu said, “I clearly told you he was boring!”

It’s just that these two things weren’t mutually exclusive. After all, Senior Brother genuinely had the capital—boring, but vigorous.

Qi Ranyin turned his head, smiling: “If you want to try some fun things with him, I can teach you. Why divorce?”

“It’s useless even if you teach me.” Yan Zhu muttered, “You don’t know how boring he is. He only knows those two positions over and over, and he only changes them when I ask. I didn’t know better before and thought it was pretty good, but now I’m not easily fooled. You also said that when choosing a man, you can’t just look for someone who is good to you.”

“Yes, I said you should also look for his cultivation, status, and resources,” Qi Ranyin said. “The Descending Snow Immortal Venerable has profound cultivation, is the most respected sword cultivator, and has accumulated countless resources from venturing in so many major and minor secret realms over the years. You definitely won’t find anyone better if you leave him.”

Yan Zhu pouted and remained silent.

Qi Ranyin continued to persuade him: “Even if you do find someone, you won’t find anyone so dedicated. Which of those great cultivators isn’t promiscuous? So many people covet your position, not just for him, but also for his devotion. If you really divorce him, someone else will immediately take your place.”

Yan Zhu was stunned at the remark and suddenly stopped talking.

Qi Ranyin had known him for many years and knew something was up from his reaction. He asked, “Did he change his heart?”

Yan Zhu shook his head, lowering his eyes, his voice muffled: “He hasn’t changed his heart. I even thought before that maybe he cultivates the Path of Heartlessness.”

Qi Ranyin gave him a speechless glance: “Where are so many Heartless Paths in this world? He must have done something to upset you.”

Yan Zhu still shook his head: “Maybe it’s the seven-year itch.”

Qi Ranyin really couldn’t help but roll his eyes: “Seven years? Seven hundred years, you mean?”

Yan Zhu pursed his lips. He hadn’t intended to talk about the flaws of this marriage at this time, but after holding back for a long time, he couldn’t help but pour out some of his grievances.

He and Wen Sucheng had been married for so long, and their life together was truly bland. Wen Sucheng was extremely boring. All day long, he was either dealing with official business or practicing his sword and researching cultivation methods. Even their intimacy (handing in the public grain), was utterly dull.

Occasionally, Yan Zhu would feel inspired and ask him to spend time with him. Wen Sucheng would be like a human money bag, saying nothing, just constantly pulling out money.

He remembered one year during the Lantern Festival. He invited Wen Sucheng to see the lanterns in the town. He thought that with so many couples in love on the street, even if Wen Sucheng was a block of wood, he could at least learn a little from others, right? Later, he realized that learning was useless.

When guessing lantern riddles, the little lovers next to them would have the girl give the riddle and the boy guess. If he guessed correctly, the girl would sweetly praise him, “You’re so clever.” If he guessed wrong, the girl would also sweetly scold, “How could you get that wrong, you idiot?” They guessed five out of ten riddles in a sticky, sweet manner, got a rabbit lantern, held hands, and went strolling.

As for Wen Sucheng, he took the riddle, guessed it himself, and guessed so fast that the boss didn’t even have time to replenish the riddles, and he got every single one right. The boss’s face was pale by the end, and his hand was shaking when he put the prizes into the box. Yan Zhu just stood by and watched, like an outsider passing by, only feeling a little sense of involvement when he accepted the prizes.

Later, they went to release sky lanterns. Yan Zhu saw others buy one lantern and write their wishes together. For example, the couple who bought one with him wrote “Grow old together” and “Twinning branches.” When the sky lantern was released, it felt like pink bubbles were rising.

Yan Zhu imitated them and wrote “Never separate until old” on the lantern. As a result, Wen Sucheng grandly waved his hand, and the four characters “Peace and Prosperity” instantly dwarfed his intention, giving Yan Zhu a heart attack on the spot.

Similar incidents were too numerous to mention; Yan Zhu could talk for three days and three nights.

In the past, he always felt that bringing up these matters would somehow smear Wen Sucheng and he didn’t want to complain to Qi Ranyin like a resentful wife, which would make it seem like his marriage was miserable, but today, he really couldn’t hold back.

Qi Ranyin was also silent for a long time after hearing this, then he exclaimed, “You actually endured him for several hundred years.”

Yan Zhu emphasized: “I’m not miserable. It’s just that sometimes I feel like Senior Brother isn’t my husband, but my older brother.”

“Stop saying such taboo things. Your relationship isn’t that stimulating.” Qi Ranyin said, rummaging through his Qiankun ring and pulling out a stack of paper, which he slapped down in front of him. “Divorce. Divorce right now. You write it first. I’ll go get you some spiritual fruits to eat.”

“I have fast-breaking pills.” Yan Zhu said.

“What’s so good about those? Don’t learn bad habits from the Immortal Venerable.” Qi Ranyin said and got up to leave.

Yan Zhu was troubled again by the stationery. He had never written a divorce agreement and didn’t know how to write one. So he had someone write one for him in the market, but other people’s divorces were separations of unhappy couples. His relationship with Wen Sucheng was actually quite good, so he couldn’t copy it exactly. Yan Zhu had to remove the introductory parts and only write blessings. When he wrote the words “Find a better partner,” his hand paused, and after a moment of hesitation, he skipped over it.

By the time Qi Ranyin brought the spiritual fruits, Yan Zhu had finished writing and was letting the paper dry on the side.

Qi Ranyin put down the fruit plate. He was very particular about this aspect. Not only did he cut the spiritual fruits, but he also arranged them beautifully on the plate. He said, “I picked some from your courtyard. I can’t tell what all of them are.”

Yan Zhu glanced at them but couldn’t identify all of them, so he let it go. He picked up a piece and put it in his mouth, saying, “It doesn’t matter. Everything in the courtyard is edible.” As he spoke, he pointed at the divorce agreement with his finger. “See if this works.”

Qi Ranyin hadn’t written a divorce agreement either. He took it and scanned it, then nodded: “It’s close enough. Go find him to sign it. You also need to discuss how to divide the family property, and your Dao Companion contract…”

He kept listing and supplementing, afraid that Yan Zhu would be taken advantage of, but before he could finish, Yan Zhu, with a piece of spiritual fruit in his mouth, rushed out, and by the direction he took, it was clear he was going to find Wen Sucheng.

Wen Sucheng was currently handling official business in the Mingxin Hall. He was just about to finish the task at hand and call in the next disciple when he saw a red figure dart in like fire. Before he could speak, he heard a “slap!” as a piece of paper was slammed onto the table, immediately followed by Yan Zhu’s voice: “Sign it!”