Chapter 148

Ling Qingxiao tried to calm himself, but every time he sat down at his desk, his eyes involuntarily drifted to the seat beside him. Luo Han wasn’t there.
Unable to focus on paperwork, he chose to cultivate instead. Meditation helped clear the mind, shutting off the senses, allowing him to forget the outside world and enter a realm of pure stillness.
Cultivation transformed heaven and earth’s energy into one’s own, and in such silence, one became more attuned to the self. With closed eyes, Ling Qingxiao slowly slipped into a strange, dreamlike trance.
He found himself standing on a battlefield. Smoke choked the air, the ground was cracked and scorched, and burnt limbs lay everywhere. He frowned, what was this place? Suddenly, a chilling laugh echoed behind him. Without turning, he sent a blast of spiritual power behind him. A cloud of black mist dispersed under the impact, then slowly reformed.
“Ling Qingxiao,” the voice hissed, “this is all your doing. You schemed and killed your way to power. You deserve to be forever alone. To love and never obtain, to obtain and always lose.”
Love and never obtain...Something in Ling Qingxiao’s chest twisted painfully.
He stared at the black mist, eyes cold with realization. “It’s you. The Demon God.”
The fragment recognized and no longer hiding, coalesced into the Demon God’s form. It circled Ling Qingxiao, laughing wildly. “Karma! How delightful. You destroyed me, and now you are my vessel. Who would have thought? The mighty Celestial Emperor, his inner darkness no less than that of a bloodthirsty demon!”
Ling Qingxiao’s expression remained grim and unafraid. “I killed you once. I can kill you a thousand more. Even hiding inside my heart-demons, if I want to destroy you, I will.”
“Destroy me? Do you dare?” The Demon God suddenly lunged forward. Just as he was about to touch Ling Qingxiao, an explosion of sword aura shredded through the air, nearly tearing him apart. The fragment retreated in panic, furious and gasping. “Fool! Arrogant brat! You think you can kill me? I feed on evil, where there is evil, I live! And you...are the perfect vessel. You want to kill me? Then you’d have to kill yourself.”
Ling Qingxiao sneered, unfazed. “And why wouldn’t I dare?”
“You may fool others, but you can’t fool me,” the fragment of the Demon God replied coldly. “You can’t bring yourself to do it. You appear noble, upright, pure, but deep inside, you’re obsessive, dark, and filled with hatred. When you fell into the abyss, you were already plagued by inner demons. If not for Xiheng taking pity on you and gifting you a divine pearl to suppress your darker thoughts, you would have become a mindless killing machine long ago, an enemy of all six realms.”
“So what?” Ling Qingxiao said. “But I didn’t. And that means it’s Heavenly Dao.”
“Heavenly Dao?” the fragment suddenly lowered its voice and whispered, “Do you really think you can keep her?”
Instantly, the spiritual energy around Ling Qingxiao exploded. Sharp ice spikes burst forth, covering the room in frost. The Demon God’s fragment burst into mocking laughter. “The mighty Celestial Emperor, yet less understanding than a mortal boy. Even the clumsiest fool knows, if you love someone, you treat her well. But you locked her up, refused to let her see anyone. She went along with it, behaved obediently, only to give you peace of mind. But do you truly believe you can cage her forever?
“She’s patient now. She’s indulging you. But when that patience runs out, will she still stay? Don’t forget, she can travel freely through time and space. She could leave and find another man, stronger, more stable, one without inner demons. And you? You’re just a shadow of him.”
Pebbles on the ground trembled. The ruins of the battlefield collapsed one after another, and even the sky began to quake. Ling Qingxiao realized his heart demon was acting up again but this time, he had completely lost control.
He was always one to guard his emotions, never trusting others. He had fought for everything he wanted: Zhongshan, his name, his power, his throne. The only thing he could never control was Luo Han.
She was the person he wanted most, and yet the one he couldn’t truly hold. He didn’t know how to keep her by his side forever. Deep down, he knew something was wrong with him, a normal husband wouldn’t be this paranoid, wouldn’t want to lock his wife away.
As his powers spiraled out of control, spiritual energy gathered from all directions, coalescing into a massive downpour.
In the storm of magic and madness, Ling Qingxiao could no longer tell illusion from reality. Was he not looking for Luo Han? Then why was he seeing Yunzhou? Could this be an illusion?
In the midst of the chaos, the door suddenly creaked open. A flash of lightning lit up the threshold. Rain blew in with the wind, soaking the floor in moments.
A cloaked figure stood at the entrance, her hem dripping and pale in the dark. Luo Han lowered her hood. Through the screen, she caught sight of Ling Qingxiao and hurriedly shed the cloak, rushing to his side.
“Ling Qingxiao, it’s me. What’s going on?”
Ling Qingxiao thought he must be trapped in a dream, how else could Luo Han be here? She reached out, took his wrist, and instantly went cold inside. His spiritual energy...was in utter chaos.
She didn’t stop to question anything. She sat beside him immediately. “Give me your hand. Don’t resist, I’ll help you guide your energy.”
Just as she began to channel his meridians, Ling Qingxiao grabbed her hand. “Why are you so cold? Is it raining hard outside?”
Though soaked outside, her clothes underneath were still dry. But Luo Han didn’t care about that now. “Stretch out your hand. I’m helping you, now.”
She held his hand, about to begin, but Ling Qingxiao gripped it tighter, murmuring, “Your hand is cold too.”
Luo Han was losing patience. She leaned in close, staring directly into his eyes. “Ling Qingxiao. It’s me. I’m Luo Han.”
Gods hold divine speech, what they say becomes truth. The divine power in her gaze cut through the haze, piercing straight into his soul. Ling Qingxiao had been wandering endlessly through darkness, surrounded by death and agony, both mortals and demons he had slain.
He had indeed killed many. He wandered alone in the void, when suddenly, a shaft of golden light broke through the sky, briefly piercing the shadows, like a god offering salvation.
The light vanished quickly. But that moment of clarity was enough to awaken him. Seeing the person right before him, he rasped, “Is it really you?”
“It’s me,” Luo Han whispered. “I’ve come back.”
Ling Qingxiao immediately wrapped his arms around her, holding her so tightly she almost couldn’t breathe. She gently reminded him, “Let’s talk later. Your energy’s still rampaging, we need to fix that first.”
“…Luo Han,” Ling Qingxiao murmured, “Were my actions these past few days shameful?”
She froze. “No. Why would you say that?”
“I locked you in Yuqing Palace. I lied and told you it was a side hall. What could be more despicable than that?”
“That’s not true,” Luo Han said softly, wrapping her arms around him. “True confinement is when one forces, and the other resists. But if both are willing then it’s simply a different way of living. I was always willing to stay by your side.”
Ling Qingxiao said nothing. Luo Han knew he didn’t believe her yet, so she went on:
“When I first came to the immortal realm, I didn’t know anything. It was you who saved me, taught me how to fly, how to cultivate. I couldn’t even read at first and it was always you, helping me step by step. Yes, I approached you at first with another purpose, but after all these years, what began as pretense has long turned into true feeling. You’ve always been good to me. You matter a lot to me.”
Ling Qingxiao held her tighter, wishing he could absorb her into his bones, so he would never have to fear losing her again. “These three months,” he whispered, “I kept feeling like none of it was real. Every day, I wondered if I was dreaming. Only when I touch you do I believe it’s true. It’s been 925 years since we met, each moment slipping away. Once we pass a thousand years, will there be nothing between us anymore?”
“It won’t happen,” Luo Han said gently, leaning on Ling Qingxiao’s shoulder. “We can establish a longer-lasting bond, a lifelong vow with no regrets. Then you’ll never have to worry about time again.”
Ling Qingxiao froze, speechless.
Luo Han pushed out of his arms and looked straight into his eyes. “Let’s get married.”
In her eyes, Ling Qingxiao saw his own reflection, the wind blowing through the door, the fine mist of rain, the faint footsteps outside, everything so vividly real. He murmured, “What illusion is this, that it feels so real?”
“This isn’t an illusion,” Luo Han said, annoyed, raising her brows. “You seem experienced. Just what were you seeing in those illusions of yours?”
“Nothing.” Ling Qingxiao tightly held her hand. “Illusions come from the heart. Even in dreams, I wouldn’t dare imagine something like this.”
He paused for a moment, his pitch-black eyes fixed on her. “What you just said, did you mean it?”
“If you believe me, then it’s true. If you don’t...then it’s false.”
Ling Qingxiao could no longer hold back. He pulled Luo Han into his arms.
But Luo Han quickly squirmed free. “Wait! You just had a heart demon attack. Your spiritual energy is rampaging through your meridians. We need to fix it first”
“It’s already healed,” Ling Qingxiao extended his hand to show her. “You agreed. I’m so happy, how could there be any pain left?”
Luo Han suspiciously took his pulse and was stunned to find it really had stabilized. She muttered, “Do your meridians understand human speech now?”
If she hadn’t known better, she would have thought he’d faked illness just to lure her here. But his earlier heart demon outburst was clearly real.
Ling Qingxiao wrapped his arms around her, pressing his forehead against hers. “All the hardships in the world and yet only you are the cure. You agreeing to marry me is worth more than any medicine. If you had said yes earlier, I’d already be immune to all illness.”
Luo Han looked into his eyes and laughed. “Sweet talker.”
Ling Qingxiao chuckled softly, pulling her close. “It’s the truth.”
—
That night, Zuo Jibai noticed a surge in Ling Qingxiao’s energy and immediately jumped out of bed, rallying his men as he rushed toward the main courtyard. By the time he arrived, the door was already open. A woman’s cloak lay discarded at the entrance, soaked and forgotten.
Zuo Jibai stood still for a moment, then silently gestured for his men to retreat and wait outside. Sure enough, the rain soon stopped. The wind scattered the clouds above Yunzhou, revealing a sky full of glittering stars.
Zuo Jibai knew that the Emperor had made it through his worst heart demon episode yet.
—
The day of Feng Yujia and Ye Zinan’s wedding arrived in a flurry of joy. Guests flooded the ceremony, especially after rumors spread that the Celestial Emperor himself had come in disguise.
For the Celestial Emperor to attend a wedding in plain clothes, Ye Zinan and Feng Yujia clearly held a special place in his heart. The King of Yunzhou was both proud and terrified: proud his son had drawn such favor, and terrified because the Celestial Emperor was far too terrifying.
The heart demon incident from a few days ago had passed quietly, leaving behind only a rainstorm and no other consequences. On the contrary, Ling Qingxiao had become extremely attentive to the wedding details, far more than expected.
At the wedding, the Yunzhou King nervously invited Ling Qingxiao to take the main seat. But Ling Qingxiao declined. “This is an unofficial visit. No need for pomp. Treat me as if I’m not here. King Zhuque is the bride’s father, and the King of Yunzhou is the groom’s. You two should preside. The auspicious hour approaches, go now. Don’t concern yourselves with me.”
They could never really ignore him, of course. But since he said so, they didn’t dare insist. The kings obediently went to perform their duties.
Even while not at the forefront, the Yunzhou King couldn’t take his eyes off Ling Qingxiao. He noticed the Celestial Emperor scrutinizing every ceremonial vessel in the hall, and his heart began to pound, was it too lavish? Did they offend somehow?
The music played cheerfully. Guests chatted merrily. But the King’s heart rose and fell with every breath. He saw Ling Qingxiao look over every decoration, and then suddenly look up.
The Yunzhou King looked up too. Ceiling beams?
The King stared at them, confused. Was there something improper about the rafters? Soon all the attendants and even some guests began tilting their heads upward. The King’s neck began to ache, but he still saw nothing out of place.
Still confused, he lowered his head again. The attendants quietly rubbed their sore necks and shared a single thought: The mind of a ruler is truly unfathomable. Then, the music swelled. Everyone knew the phoenix bride’s procession had arrived.
Ling Qingxiao was still analyzing the wedding arrangements when he suddenly felt someone press close behind him. Without looking back, he reached out, accurately catching her.
Luo Han leaned in and asked, “What are you staring at so seriously?”
She had accompanied Feng Yujia from the palace and found Ling Qingxiao quickly among the crowd, only to discover he was entirely absorbed in observation.
“Field study,” he replied, grasping her hand and jotting notes on a jade slip with the other. “Books are one thing, but seeing it live is better. The bird clan isn’t great at much, but their ceremony is well done.”
Luo Han nudged him with her elbow. Was he really badmouthing the bird clan at their own wedding? Of course, Ling Qingxiao had a silence barrier around them, if he didn’t want to be heard, no one would.
But he didn’t explain himself, he quietly accepted her scolding.
By now, the ceremony had entered its most important stage. The phoenix tribe’s honor guard walked down the red carpet. Young phoenix girls scattered multicolored leaves, each from a different tree, symbolizing nature’s blessings for the couple.
Behind the procession came Feng Yujia, wearing a grand golden crown and an exquisitely ornate wedding gown. Her long trailing train swept behind her as she slowly ascended toward the ceremonial platform.
On the ceremonial platform, Ye Zinan stood dressed in full regalia. He wore a faint smile, his eyes locked on Feng Yujia as if the entire world had narrowed down to her alone.
Feng Yujia ascended the platform and performed the traditional avian wedding rites: bowing to the heavens and earth, to her parents, to the forest. Finally, the couple entwined their ceremonial feathers, a sacred vow that symbolized eternal union, no regrets, no betrayal. If one were to die, the other would remain unmarried for life, until they met again on the Road to the Underworld.
Most of the guests had come from the bird clans, drawn by the marriage alliance between Yunzhou and Wuzhou. When the couple exchanged feathers, the crowd erupted in thunderous applause. Many guests were moved to tears as they recalled their own memories. Even Luo Han was touched.
The immortal realm was full of scheming and power plays, where interests trumped emotions. Yet here were the bird clans, still clinging to monogamy, to lifelong devotion, to loving with every ounce of their heart. Once they chose a partner, they never left, not even after death. At this wedding, every guest, noble or humble, kind or wicked, was faithful in love.
This, truly, was a wedding that embodied the best wishes of all. Luo Han suddenly felt a presence and looked up, finding Ling Qingxiao already watching her. His eyes were entirely focused, so quiet and deep.
All around them, applause and cheers thundered. But in that instant, the world blurred into a distant haze. Ling Qingxiao leaned down and kissed Luo Han gently on the forehead. His wife. His one and only. He would spend his entire life being faithful to her.
—
The wedding festivities lasted until nightfall and continued for three days, with endless feasting and celebration. Feng Yujia eventually changed into another gown and came out to greet the guests. Now that she was married, her coronation as queen could proceed. Everyone already saw her as the future ruler of the Phoenix Clan. Well-wishers surrounded her endlessly.
In the Phoenix Clan, the queen was tasked with producing heirs. But the bird clans were famously devoted, if an unmarried queen failed to find her ideal partner, the royal line could be cut off. To avoid this crisis, tradition dictated that only the married could be crowned king or queen.
Feng Yujia’s marriage, especially to a fellow bird clan member of equal rank, the Vermillion Bird prince meant no risk of betrayal from outsiders. Both Yunzhou and Wuzhou were relieved. This union was perfect. The wedding was as grand as it was joyful.
Luo Han, Ling Qingxiao, and Zou Jibai came to offer their congratulations. Feng Yujia now wore a red gown, less elaborate than her wedding dress, but still elegant and regal. Luo Han raised a cup and smiled. “Congratulations. Wishing you a lifetime of joy, harmony, and fulfillment.”
Ye Zinan and Feng Yujia had no idea that Luo Han’s words carried divine power, but they smiled and raised their cups. “Thank you.”
Zou Jibai, for some reason, had been overly sentimental lately. Seeing his good friend married and his emperor reunited with Luo Han, his eyes got misty again. “I don’t know how to give fancy speeches,” he said, “so I’ll just wish you an early child. If it’s a boy, I’ll teach him our ancestral combat technique. If it’s a girl, I’ll adopt her as my goddaughter and protect her for life.”
A bit crude, perhaps, but sincere. Birth rates in the immortal realm were low, and the bird clans even more so. Both phoenix and vermillion bird succession lines accepted any gender but if they could produce an heir early, both kingdoms would rejoice.
Ye Zinan was genuinely touched. “I’ll hold you to that. When the child’s born, you must be the godparent. No backing out.”
Everyone laughed. Ling Qingxiao also lifted his cup slightly and said, “Congratulations.”
He rarely showed emotion, so for him to say this much stunned the newlyweds. They thanked him and drained their cups and to everyone’s surprise, Ling Qingxiao actually drank too.
Luo Han knew that Feng Yujia and Ye Zinan would be very busy tonight. She had delivered her blessing and didn’t want to take up any more of their time. But Ling Qingxiao, despite his efforts to remain low-profile, still drew attention. One person after another came to greet him.
Even Zou Jibai was surrounded.
Luo Han didn’t like crowds. She quietly slipped away and stood alone in a quiet corner, waiting for Ling Qingxiao to break free.
In the swaying lantern light, someone approached her and said softly, “I had no idea...that the lady was the Heavenly Dao.”
Luo Han slowly turned. To her surprise, it was someone she hadn’t expected. “And I had no idea that the head of the Kunshan Clan would attend the wedding of the Feng and Ye families.”
“A phoenix and vermillion bird alliance is a grand event. Who wouldn’t want to witness it?” Yi Xiu said calmly. “I have a few things I’d like to ask the Heavenly Dao. Would you step aside with me?”
“And if I refuse?”
Yi Xiu smiled faintly, eyes full of quiet certainty. “Even the matter of the Celestial Emperor’s heart demon...cannot persuade you?”