Pregnant with the Immortal Venerable's Child After Divorce - Chapter 20(2.2)

Chapter 20(2.2): You Only Know Two Positions in Bed. . .

But Yan Zhu didn’t take it. He looked at the plant, inexplicably wanting to laugh.

Because of the absurdity of the scene.

Because of the reason Wen Sucheng did it.

He continued: “Every time Mother finished an episode, she would hold me, apologize to me, and coax me.” He said, then looked up at Wen Sucheng, “Sometimes I thought you were very much like Father, but now I think you are very much like Mother.”

His mother’s tongue was cut out. Little Senior Brother never learned to speak.

So when faced with an issue, Little Senior Brother never asked and didn’t know he could ask. He only guessed in the dark, then acted on his guess.

But he was no better than Little Senior Brother.

He hadn’t learned either.

He had become accustomed to not saying anything.

He didn’t want to see Mother cry.

He was afraid Little Senior Brother would be displeased.

He didn’t want to see Mother impatient.

He was afraid Little Senior Brother would lose patience.

He didn’t want to hear Mother’s hurtful words.

He was afraid Little Senior Brother would say something hurtful.

So they faced each other with a self-proclaimed, understanding silence, hoping the other would take the initiative to say something, make a request, and not be unhappy if they couldn’t fulfill it.

But relationships between people shouldn’t be like this.

When Yan Zhu was with Qi Ran’yin, he would complain to him. Complaining that Wen Sucheng didn’t speak, complaining that the new spiritual plant was hard to grow, complaining that the new disciple was speaking ill of him behind his back. Qi Ran’yin would also complain to him, complaining that his new lover wasn’t good enough in bed, complaining that someone snatched the artifact he wanted to buy, and complaining about meeting an idiot while exploring a secret realm together.

So Qi Ran’yin knew that his Dao companion was mute, knew he had acquired a new spiritual plant, and would secretly help him punish the new disciple.

He also knew Qi Ran’yin had a new lover and had gone to a new secret realm, and he would also ask Senior Sister if she could help refine a similar artifact.

Sometimes they would fight. In the heat of anger, Yan Zhu once told Qi Ran’yin that he hated him and never wanted to see him again, which angered Qi Ran’yin enough to turn and leave.

When he left, Yan Zhu regretted it, but he didn’t know how to placate Qi Ran’yin.

However, Qi Ran’yin didn’t give him a chance to fret. The next day, he came to Burning Snow Peak with a newly bought artifact to apologize. He said he had said some harsh things and that Yan Zhu shouldn’t have said what he did.

The artifact wasn’t rare, just a little toy that glowed and made sounds. It was perfect as a decoration in Yan Zhu’s courtyard and was something Yan Zhu would like.

Yan Zhu then hugged him, apologized, and, imitating Qi Ran’yin, also found an artifact to apologize with.

After that incident, Yan Zhu knew that some words couldn’t be said and that he should prepare something the other person liked when apologizing.

But he knew nothing about Wen Sucheng. Wen Sucheng would tell him he was leaving, what he was doing, and for how long, but he never told him about the things he encountered or the people he met when he returned. Even the heavenly treasures he gave him, Wen Sucheng wouldn’t explain their use unless Yan Zhu asked.

He and Wen Sucheng never fought.

He wouldn’t get angry at Wen Sucheng, and Wen Sucheng wouldn’t get angry at him.

Yan Zhu once thought that it was because he and Little Senior Brother had a very good relationship that they never fought.

But later, he realized that wasn’t the case. They didn’t fight because they had no expectations or demands of each other.

He wouldn’t complain about anything Wen Sucheng didn’t do, and Wen Sucheng wouldn’t be dissatisfied with anything he did.

Indifferent, unbothered, so they wouldn’t get angry.

They called themselves husband and husband, yet they lived like strangers.

He had said Wen Sucheng was boring, but he hadn’t voiced any objection for so many years. Why did he suddenly have one now?

It was simply because he suddenly cared.

He began to have expectations for Wen Sucheng.

But Wen Sucheng couldn’t learn the things he wanted.

He liked Wen Sucheng.

But they truly weren’t a good match.

Yan Zhu took the spiritual herb, put it into his spatial ring, and said: “I have never been angry with you. The divorce wasn’t entirely because of what happened in b-bed. You don’t need to worry about that.”

Wen Sucheng looked at him: “Then why was it?”

Yan Zhu didn’t dare to say. He was afraid Wen Sucheng would take it to heart.

He was afraid Wen Sucheng would truly try to change.

He was afraid Wen Sucheng would take it to heart but misunderstand.

Little Senior Brother was a block of wood lacking in passion and affection. He might never understand what Yan Zhu truly wanted in this lifetime.

He didn’t want a Little Senior Brother who forced himself to speak every day.

He didn’t want a Little Senior Brother who forced himself to learn things that made him feel ashamed.

He didn’t want a Little Senior Brother who put on a strained smile.

He didn’t want a Little Senior Brother who pretended to love him.

And most of all, he didn’t want a Little Senior Brother who, after daily self-coercion, began to resent the source of all of it—

He didn’t want Little Senior Brother to hate him.

“It doesn’t matter why,” Yan Zhu lowered his head, not daring to look at him. His fingers nervously twisted the spatial ring on his hand. “We’re already divorced. What’s the point of talking about it now?”

Since he refused to say, Wen Sucheng didn’t ask again. The two fell silent once more.

Yan Zhu thought they would continue as before, silently doing their own things, until some new event appeared, disrupting their state, and then they would continue with other tasks.

But this time, it was different.

When Wen Sucheng hugged him, Yan Zhu completely froze. He called out “Little Senior Brother” somewhat blankly, but didn’t react further.

He didn’t know how to react.

Even in bed, Wen Sucheng rarely hugged him.

Wen Sucheng was tall, with broad shoulders and back. His muscles were not monstrously large but smoothly covered his bones, symmetrical and coordinated. In bed, his sweat would slide down his broad chest and chiseled abs. Every movement carried the aesthetic of power, like a fierce and nimble leopard.

But hugging him like this now, those powerful muscles felt like a small palace surrounding him. He had his favorite scent, giving him a warm sense of security.

It was different from Mother’s embrace.

It was also different from Qi Ran’yin’s embrace.

It was an embrace that belonged only to Wen Sucheng.

After a moment of hesitation, Yan Zhu still didn’t hug him back, only lightly rubbed against his shoulder.

Wen Sucheng didn’t say anything, but Yan Zhu knew that Wen Sucheng wanted to tell him that he was learning.

But Yan Zhu was still not satisfied.

He wanted to hear Wen Sucheng speak, wanted to see Wen Sucheng do more.

He pushed Wen Sucheng away and said: “We are already divorced.”

Wen Sucheng’s lips moved upon hearing this, as if he wanted to say something, but after a moment of hesitation, he swallowed the words and remained silent for a while before saying: “We can remarry.”

Yan Zhu was stunned, then shook his head: “What difference would starting over make? We wouldn’t change anything.”

“Yes, there is,” Wen Sucheng said softly. “We have a child.”

Yan Zhu froze again. A few breaths later, a hint of confusion appeared in his eyes. His tone carried a note of doubt: “You’re doing all this just to convince me to keep the child?”

This time, it was Wen Sucheng’s turn to freeze. He hadn’t expected his words to be interpreted this way. He quickly denied: “No, I just… it will be different.”

With a child, things between them would change.

Yan Zhu immediately scowled, looking at him with displeasure.

This was the first time Wen Sucheng had mentioned the child to Yan Zhu in his true identity. He knew Yan Zhu didn’t want it, but he hadn’t expected such a strong reaction. He felt a bit helpless: “Little Zhu, I didn’t tell you to keep it.”

Seeing Yan Zhu’s face darken even more after he spoke, he realized his words were ambiguous and quickly added: “I will listen to you.”

But Yan Zhu was still unhappy.

Wen Sucheng regretted it a little.

He shouldn’t have brought up this matter in the first place.

But words spoken were like water poured out. He didn’t know how to placate Yan Zhu, so he could only try to get out of Yan Zhu’s sight.

He changed the subject: “I’ll go look for people.” Then, without waiting for Yan Zhu’s answer, he quickly turned and left.

Watching his hasty retreat, Yan Zhu instantly puffed up like a pufferfish. He grabbed something nearby and threw it at the door.

Escaping again, escaping again! Exactly like that annoying father of his!!

Despite his anger, he still had to help with the search. Yan Zhu could only maintain a stern face and step out.

Only to find that Wen Sucheng was already gone.

Feeling annoyed, he returned to the carriage and took out his communication artifact to ask where he had gone, but the artifact couldn’t be used in the secret realm.

He also couldn’t drive the carriage.

Yan Zhu was forced to stay behind.

Wen Sucheng returned two days later, accompanied by Yan Zhitao and several young cultivators. Yan Zhu had to swallow the tantrum he had been brewing and check on Yan Zhitao’s condition first.

She was injured. Although the wounds had been treated, the treatment was crude, and the sight was rather gruesome.

Yan Zhu immediately looked at Wen Sucheng: “What happened?”

Wen Sucheng explained: “She refused.”

Yan Zhitao quickly pulled his hand, biting her lip and nodding: “I was in a hurry to return. Celestial Venerable already gave me an elixir.”

Wen Sucheng’s elixirs were naturally the best, so Yan Zhu felt relieved. He looked at the disciples behind Yan Zhitao and asked: “What’s the situation with them?”

“Conveniently picked them up,” Wen Sucheng said.

Yan Zhu understood. They had probably landed in the same area as Yan Zhitao by chance.

He supported Yan Zhitao and gently said: “Come with me to the carriage and rest well.” He then glanced at Wen Sucheng, “You take care of them.”

He then led Yan Zhitao back into the carriage.

As soon as they were in the carriage, Yan Zhitao seemed to lose all strength and leaned against Yan Zhu.

Yan Zhu quickly supported her, frowning: “What’s wrong? Your body…”

“Uncle Master—” Yan Zhitao clung to Yan Zhu’s shoulder, and tears began to fall. But when Yan Zhu asked her what was wrong, she just cried incessantly without answering.

Yan Zhu had to change the question: “Were you also trapped by the illusion when you entered?”

Yan Zhitao nodded: “Mother taught me how to break it.”

Breaking the illusion had nothing to do with cultivation and everything to do with the heart. Yan Zhitao grew up in a harmonious and beautiful environment, so there was nothing for the illusion to latch onto. Although it took some effort to escape, she was not injured.

She was also smart enough to know that the situation in the secret realm was strange, so after escaping, she found a secluded spot and hid using the artifact Yan Zhu gave her.

“Then I ran into those people,” Yan Zhitao lowered her head, sniffled, and continued to cry. “They are disciples of the Myriad Heights Sect. I remember the Myriad Heights Sect is near the Bright Heart Sect, so I went with them. They knew I had an artifact you gave me, so they asked me for help.”

When Yan Zhu tried to ask more, Yan Zhitao stopped talking.

But Yan Zhu wasn’t stupid. Yan Zhitao was a young girl with little experience in the world, and everything was written on her face. He didn’t need to ponder much to know that those people must have bullied her and probably used some manipulation, which was why Yan Zhitao didn’t dare to speak up.

As for what they used…

Yan Zhu lowered his head and rummaged through his spatial ring, pulling out a box. He said: “I’ll go make you some herbal medicine. You rest for a while first.”

The box was given to him by Yingyun Xian a long time ago. It contained elixirs that could suppress Gu poison. She told him to take one if he encountered danger to temporarily suppress it before seeking an antidote.

He didn’t know what was wrong with Yan Zhitao, and he didn’t dare to propose it rashly. He could only dissolve the elixir, pretending it was the brewed herbal medicine, and let Yan Zhitao drink it.

Yan Zhitao had no reaction after drinking it.

After thinking about it, Yan Zhu pulled out a bracelet-style artifact from his spatial ring. His tone was gentle as he explained: “Little Senior Brother made this for me. It can speed up the body’s recovery. You need to get better, or your Uncle will worry.”

As he spoke, he put the bracelet on Yan Zhitao’s wrist. The moment the bracelet touched her skin, Yan Zhitao screamed, clutching her head as she collapsed onto the ground, groaning in pain.

Yan Zhu immediately went over, looking worriedly at her: “What’s wrong?”

Yan Zhitao didn’t answer, but Yan Zhu already understood.

He saw an eye appear on Yan Zhitao’s smooth forehead.

It was actually this kind of evil technique used to control people.

Yan Zhu frowned. He quickly took out several more artifacts and placed them on Yan Zhitao to suppress the evil technique. Only then did he storm out, fuming.

He saw that those people had already been bound by Wen Sucheng. Seeing him approach, they quickly begged for mercy, saying they only wanted to protect themselves and were afraid Yan Zhitao wouldn’t help, which was why they had attacked her. They never intended to harm her.

Yan Zhu frowned: “Then what about her injuries?”

“It wasn’t us! It was the demonic beasts!!” one of the disciples quickly explained. “You can see for yourself. We really didn’t do it!!”

“Of course I know it was demonic beasts,” Yan Zhu said. “I’m asking you, why was she the only one so severely injured while all of you are fine? She has quite a few artifacts on her.”

The people began to claim again that Yan Zhitao was kind and protected them.

Yan Zhu frowned, listening, but didn’t say a word. His expression showed that he didn’t believe a single word.

The disciples could only turn to Wen Sucheng for mercy, but their plea changed. They spoke of the good relationship between the Myriad Heights Sect and the Bright Heart Sect, how they offered many tribute items to the Bright Heart Sect every year, and how their Sect Master was also good friends with Wen Tianren, begging Wen Sucheng to let them go.

Hearing this, Yan Zhu was immediately infuriated, but at the same time, a little worry surfaced in his heart.

If his father were handling this, he would definitely minimize the matter. He cared most about his reputation. He would let them go, give a few words of admonishment, and when the news spread, everyone would say he was a benevolent person who guided the younger generation to greater heights—a truly deserving role model. As for the grievances suffered by his own people, a bit of compensation would suffice.

Would Wen Sucheng, as his apprentice and successor, handle things the same way?

Yan Zhu knew it was a bit much to doubt Little Senior Brother like this, but he had never managed sectarian affairs and wasn’t familiar with Wen Sucheng’s style of handling such matters.

“They placed a curse on Little Tao,” Yan Zhu said, then hesitated before adding, “It’s an evil technique.”

Wen Sucheng glanced at him.

Yan Zhu immediately looked away guiltily, but after a few breaths, he turned back and asked: “How are you going to deal with this?”

Wen Sucheng didn’t answer but said: “I will deal with it fairly.”

Yan Zhu was stunned. He glanced at the disciples and, seeing that the fear on their faces had lessened considerably, he frowned slightly.

If Wen Sucheng wasn’t going to deal with it, then he would deal with them himself later!

Just as he was about to turn back, he saw Wen Sucheng take out an artifact—a beast cage used to capture demonic beasts alive.

Yan Zhu guessed his intention and asked somewhat uncertainly: “An eye for an eye?”

Wen Sucheng nodded and added: “That evil technique is unusable. You think of something else.”

Yan Zhu thought for a moment and quickly remembered something.

He lowered his head and rummaged through his spatial ring, pulling out a bottle of elixirs. He handed it to Wen Sucheng, and explained: “I made this with the Man-Eating Flower. If a person who eats it harbors ill intentions, their head will feel a painful ache, as if it’s being gnawed by worms.”

The disciples’ faces turned pale upon hearing this, and they immediately wanted to beg for mercy, but before they could speak, Wen Sucheng placed a silencing restriction on them.

Yan Zhu immediately helped Yan Zhitao out, let her watch those people receive the same injuries from demonic beasts, and gave her the bottle of medicine, letting her feed it to them, before taking her back to the carriage.

Dispelling the evil technique required some effort, but with Wen Sucheng there, Yan Zhu didn’t need to worry.

By the time Yan Zhitao had recovered and lay down to rest, most of a day had passed.

There were no days and nights in the secret realm. Yan Zhu could only use a timing artifact to determine that it should be night outside the secret realm.

He confirmed Yan Zhitao was fine, then left the carriage to find Wen Sucheng.

Wen Sucheng was sitting by a bonfire, his head lowered, tinkering with something.

Yan Zhu walked over and looked. He saw him carving a piece of wood, presumably to make some kind of artifact.

He sat down next to Wen Sucheng and softly said: “Thank you.”

Wen Sucheng’s hand movements paused: “No need.” After he spoke, he resumed his carving, but he continued to talk, “You thought I would let them go.”

The declarative tone made Yan Zhu feel guilty.

He awkwardly “Mhm-ed,” and quickly added: “My father would have done that.”

Wen Sucheng didn’t refute, only continued carving the wood in his hand. When he finished and drew a few simple lines on it, he presented it to Yan Zhu. Only then did Yan Zhu realize it wasn’t an artifact, but a wooden toy, plump and with simple features that somewhat resembled Yan Zhu.

Yan Zhu looked at him in confusion.

Wen Sucheng took out another wooden figure, also a plump little figure, but the craftsmanship was significantly cruder. Even the features were unclear.

“Zhitao made it,” Wen Sucheng explained.

When dispelling the evil technique earlier, Yan Zhitao, having nothing to do, kept tinkering with this, saying she wanted to give it to Wen Sucheng.

Her craftsmanship wasn’t good. The carving could only vaguely be described as human-shaped, but she happily said it was Yan Zhu, and would give it to him later.

Wen Sucheng thought the little figure was ugly, but he thought Yan Zhu would like it.

If Yan Zhu liked it, then he could make one too.

“I’ll carve a few arrays into it. It can be a substitute talisman,” Wen Sucheng said.

A casual little gift instantly became an artifact.

Yan Zhu refused: “This is fine.”

He traced the little wooden figure with his finger, a smile forming in his eyes.

Wen Sucheng hadn’t guessed wrong. Yan Zhu really liked it.

He felt slightly reassured and said: “If you like it, I’ll make more.”

Yan Zhu shook his head: “This one is enough.”

Wen Sucheng continued: “I am different from Master.”

Yan Zhu was startled, realizing he was referring to the earlier incident. He felt a little guilty: “I shouldn’t have misunderstood you.”

Wen Sucheng, however, shook his head: “You weren’t wrong.”

If they were sect disciples, he would indeed handle it that way. He was the Bright Heart Sect Master and had to consider the smaller sects under the Sect’s banner. Too harsh a punishment would certainly cause resentment, so he could only minimize the matter and offer compensation to the injured disciple.

But Yan Zhitao was Yan Zhu’s kin. If she suffered a grievance, Yan Zhu would definitely be unhappy.

It was just a few insults. At most, Father would punish him later. It didn’t matter.

“I am different from Master,” Wen Sucheng repeated.

Yan Zhu didn’t answer, only watched him quietly, waiting for him to continue.

Wen Sucheng lowered his voice: “Little Zhu, let’s not divorce. Is that alright?”