Smoke and Fire [GL] - Chapter 22

“After doing all of this, the Sovereign Lord said to the demons, ‘The Demon Realm has been suppressed by the Celestial Realm for long enough. Those who wish to go up and slay gods and slaughter Buddhas, follow me!’ A myriad of demons responded, the momentum unprecedented.”

“Next, the Sovereign Lord sacrificed the part of herself that was divine and opened the path to the Celestial Realm. Upon reaching the Celestial Realm, we slew gods and slaughtered Buddhas, fighting all the way to the main hall of the wedding. The Sovereign Lord burst through the door, shielding High Goddess Azure Luan behind her. The two tightly embraced, a truly beautiful and tragic sight.”

“Unexpectedly, the Fire Phoenix was tactless and repeatedly interfered. The Sovereign Lord then smiled and said, ‘Brother, do you really think I won’t kill you?’ Following this, the Sovereign Lord and the Fire Phoenix clashed outside the hall. The Sovereign Lord’s power completely overwhelmed the Fire Phoenix, and with one strike—she killed him.”

The storyteller paused mysteriously here. The listeners craned their necks, waiting for him to continue, but he leisurely said, “That is all for today. To know what happened after the death of the Fire Phoenix, tune in next time.”

“Ah?! How can you do that!”

“Storyteller! Get back here, you old hag!”

“……”

Yi An was also completely engrossed and felt suddenly deflated. She pouted and said, “Hmph, telling half a story is like giving birth halfway.”

“If you’re so eager to hear it, why don’t you just ask Luo Yao?” A soft chuckle suddenly came from behind her.

Yi An turned her head. Yi An was startled.

“Shen… Peh, Junxuan? What are you doing here!”

It was indeed Junxuan, but he was wearing a black hooded robe, looking a bit like a wizard. He smiled and said, “The Demon Lord is my sister, Luo Yao is my sister-in-law. If you can be here, why can’t I?”

“The Demon Lord is your sister…” Yi An started to realize something. She asked curiously, “Then, was the Fire Phoenix the storyteller just mentioned your biological brother?”

“Yes, he was. Can we sit down and talk?” Junxuan curved his lips and very gentlemanly pulled out a window seat for Yi An.

Yi An sat down, and Junxuan asked, “What would you like to drink?”

“Anything,” Yi An wasn’t focused on that at all. “You still haven’t answered my question!”

“Alright, alright, I’ll tell you.” Junxuan pointed to a sign for the waiter, then smiled helplessly, “Theoretically, the Fire Phoenix was my brother, but you know, my sister and I have a consensus that we are only children.”

“Huh, you two don’t consider yourselves siblings?”

“Who would dare! With her personality…” He carefully considered his words. “It’s too terrifying, truly too terrifying. I’ve thought about annihilating the Fire Phoenix too, but it’s really just a thought. But if she says she’ll kill someone, she won’t hesitate for a second.”

“Hmm?” Yi An was confused. “No, she’s usually very gentle, except for being a little cold towards Si Yin.”

Junxuan choked violently on water, waving his hand to signal he was fine while saying, “Cough, cough, cough… Yi An, remember this: as long as Luo Yao is present, do not take anything my sister says or any of her expressions seriously. Remember this point, and you will thank me later.”

“Are you saying she’s only nice to me because Luo Yao is here?” Yi An gasped, sounding a bit forlorn. “How could that be?”

“How gentle can a Demon Lord who kills without blinking possibly be? Unless it’s towards someone she genuinely cares about.” Junxuan took the two drinks the waiter delivered, handing one to Yi An. “Hiss, the God Slaying Festival seems particularly lively this year. Is there a dark horse?”

This restaurant had a direct view of the arena. Yi An looked down and was shocked to find Qing Qiuzé still standing up there: “Look, look, it’s that one—Holy crap, that footwork! Is that even allowed?!”

“Oh, Qing Qiuzé, the newly born King of the Fox Demon Clan. If it’s her, it’s not surprising.” Junxuan only glanced and then turned his attention away, bored.

“Are you jealous?” Yi An took a sip of the drink in her cup, then paused.

Hmm?

Not sure, let me taste it again.

Mmm!

Junxuan scrutinized the flower-emitting Yi An for a while, then turned his face away, desperately trying to suppress his laughter.

“Does it taste good?”

Yi An’s eyes were sparkling: “Mhm mhm mhm mhm mhm!!”

He nodded: “Waiter, please pack two more portions of Forgetfulness Water for this lady. Put it on my tab.”

“This stuff is called Forgetfulness Water??”

“It’s just a gimmick. Real Forgetfulness Water costs much more than this,” Junxuan laughed. “But this recipe is quite complex. I guessed you would like it.”

Yi An did genuinely like it. It was sweet and sour, with a rich wine aroma and a refreshing scent of orchids.

“Thanks.”

“My pleasure.”

“Wow, you’re so pretentious, Strong Bro.”

“Am I, Weak Sis?”

“……”

The two were bantering happily when they heard the gongs below ring again: “Round 206, Qing Qiuzé, wins!!”

“Does any other little darling want to come up?” After so many rounds, not even a strand of her hair was out of place. She flipped herself onto the tall pillar of the arena, completely unconcerned about the bare skin visible beneath the slit of her qipao.

No one dared to respond.

After half an hour, the gong rang once more: “No challenge means victory! The God Slayer, Qing Qiuzé!!!”

She smiled, jumped down, and bowed.

“Qing Qiuzé!! Qing Qiuzé!! Qing Qiuzé!! Qing Qiuzé!!…”

Yi An couldn’t stand the noise from the demons and retracted her gaze: “Is this God Slayer a prize? What happens?”

“Yes, it’s a title awarded annually in the Demon Realm,” Junxuan said. “The God Slayer receives many privileges, the biggest of which is that she can make one request to my sister, and my sister must fulfill it, within the bounds of her power.”

“Holy crap, no wonder so many people go up there seeking death.”

Isn’t that essentially having the Demon Realm’s ruler do something for them? Yi An was even slightly tempted, let alone these demons.

She watched as Qing Qiuzé gracefully walked up to the highest viewing platform—those two small red and white dots were the protagonists they had been gossiping about all this time.

“Reporting to the Sovereign Lord, the God Slayer has arrived.”

Shang Mian, wearing a crimson gongfu robe, glanced at the maid and said faintly, “Announce her.” Then she turned back and continued smilingly telling Luo Yao about the fascinating anecdotes of the Demon Realm, making Luo Yao collapse into laughter in her arms once again.

“Madam, these have just been delivered.” Bu Ye knelt beside Luo Yao, presenting a plate of round, crystal-clear chilled grapes with both hands.

Luo Yao sat up from Shang Mian’s arms and smiled as she accepted them: “Thank you for your effort, take a rest.”

What she found strange was that ever since returning to the Demon Realm this time, Bu Ye had been addressing her as “Madam.” It wasn’t just her; everyone seemed to be doing it… It was so uniform, as if someone had given them a heads-up beforehand.

Qing Qiuzé was then led up. Her gaze first swept over Luo Yao, then she bowed elegantly: “Greetings to the Sovereign Lord, High Goddess Azure Luan.”

“Dispensed,” Shang Mian raised her hand and hooked Luo Yao’s waist, looking down from her high position. “God Slayer, what is your request?”

This high platform had been enchanted beforehand. Since Qing Qiuzé stepped onto it, every word spoken would be amplified hundreds of times, heard by everyone, to ensure the fairness and transparency of the reward.

Qing Qiuzé did not immediately state her request. Instead, she spun her tobacco pipe with interest and smiled: “Sovereign Lord, I’m curious, what level of request can you accept?”

Shang Mian also smiled: “As long as you know your limits.”

“That will be troublesome. We Fox Clan are born without restraint, and we don’t understand limits.”

She curved her lips, walked gracefully to the main seat, then leaned in slightly, meeting Luo Yao’s eyes, her voice carrying a clear hint of seduction: “—High Goddess Azure Luan, I have admired your Highness for a long time. Today, I have come to propose marriage to you.”

Proposing marriage to the Demon Lord’s wife!

And right in front of the Demon Lord!!

The previously noisy area around the arena fell into complete silence. All the demons exchanged glances. But within this silence, there was a hidden excitement. It seemed everyone enjoyed gossip that defied authority.

Yi An spat out a mouthful of Forgetfulness Water. Junxuan quickly came over to pat her back, comforting her: “It’s fine, it’s fine. Demons often provoke others using their partner. She’s just borrowing your Luo Yao, it’s fine, okay.”

Despite his words, his brows were tightly furrowed.

Back on the high platform, after Qing Qiuzé spoke those words, Shang Mian glanced at her sideways, not overly surprised, and then let out a light, cryptic chuckle.

“Truly worthy of being the King of the Fox Clan,” although she was smiling, her expression became increasingly dangerous. “What am I, in your eyes?”

“Sovereign Lord, I am speaking to her Highness. Why are you interrupting?” Qing Qiuzé returned the same smile.

Shang Mian’s eyes darkened.

Luo Yao knew her too well and recognized the expression she made when she was about to kill someone. The smile just now was an ultimatum. If she didn’t stop her immediately, the moment her bone whip appeared, bl00d would definitely be spilled on the platform.

But Qing Qiuzé could not die, at least not now. She was the rightful God Slayer who had gone through the official process—if Shang Mian killed her in public, she would certainly face criticism.

With this thought, Luo Yao hardened her heart. While secretly pressing down on Shang Mian’s left hand, she calmly looked up: “I heard that the Fox Demon Clan you belong to advocates natural freedom and usually practices an open marriage system. However, since you have entered the Demon Realm, please respect our customs.”

Qing Qiuzé gave an “Oh?” sound: “What custom does Your Highness refer to?”

“As long as the partner is still alive, one should never abandon them.”

“A fine custom,” Qing Qiuzé mused. “In that case, if the partner were to die, one would be free to remarry?”

A highly ominous black mist was already surging from Shang Mian’s fingertips. Luo Yao fiercely grabbed her, meeting her gaze without flinching.

—Let go, let me kill her.

—No.

—Absolutely not.

Qing Qiuzé pretended not to notice their reaction, smiling sweetly: “Then I will change my request. I request a duel with you in the arena, until one party yields, my Sovereign Lord.”

The situation had escalated to a highly volatile point, the scent of gunpowder thick in the air. A single spark could trigger a chain explosion.

Just then.

The sound of a scythe being picked up, neither too soft nor too loud, came from behind everyone.

Then, under everyone’s gaze, the richly dressed young girl raised her hand and unfastened her cloak. She walked with light steps, circling to stand in front of Luo Yao. Her back was to Luo Yao, and her scythe, about two meters tall, struck the ground with a thud, creating a lingering resonance.

Linshuang’s face blossomed into an extremely light and beautiful smile: “I heard you want to marry my Mom?”

“—Did you ask for my permission?”