Chapter 47 He’s Que Zizhen’s Selfish Desire

Chapter 47: He Is Que Zizhen's Selfish Wish

"No need for pleasantries. We're not acquainted."

Yuan Qichen spoke the truth. Their only prior interaction had been when the Demon Lord's position changed hands, and Bian Xiu, dissatisfied with the outcome, challenged Yuan Qichen.

Naturally, he lost miserably.

Little did Yuan Qichen know that, over a hundred years after he had long forgotten this trivial matter, someone still harbored a grudge in the shadows.

Yuan Qichen rejected the attempt to get chummy, but Bian Xiu wasn’t angered. Instead, he turned to chat with Que Zizhen: "I never expected to see both the Demon Lord and the Jade Mountain Immortal Lord here today. Wangran City is truly graced by your presence."

Que Zizhen: "..."

"If you want to fish for information, come to me. What’s the point of bullying someone who doesn’t speak?" Yuan Qichen pulled Que Zizhen behind him, his gaze growing increasingly hostile toward Bian Xiu.

Bullying?

Bian Xiu’s lips twitched slightly, stunned by Yuan Qichen’s obvious protectiveness.

It was true that he wanted to fish for information. After all, anyone who saw these two standing together as allies would rub their eyes in disbelief.

Without Que Zizhen, given the power of his Grand Formation, even if he couldn’t kill Yuan Qichen, he could at least severely injure him.

Moreover…

Rumors said that Yuan Qichen had been severely injured during the siege by the Various Immortal Sects fourteen years ago and had never fully recovered, which was why he hadn’t left the Myriad Demon Abyss for years.

Bian Xiu didn’t fully believe this, but he was mostly convinced. Yet now, it seemed this might not be the case.

One unexpected variable after another made him hesitate to act rashly. He pasted on a smile beneath the mask Yuan Qichen loathed: "Your Excellency flatters me. I merely noticed the Jade Mountain Immortal Lord’s close relationship with you and wished to express my concern."

"Instead of worrying about us, you should worry about your Grand Protectors. Their cultivation hasn’t reached the required level, yet they forcibly expanded their *dantians* with secret arts. I’m afraid it won’t be long before they ‘boom—’ explode." Yuan Qichen laughed, making an exploding gesture.

Bian Xiu replied indifferently, "That’s just their unfortunate fate. For the greater cause of the demon race, such sacrifices are necessary."

"The demon race’s greater cause?" Yuan Qichen’s expression turned cold. "Since when did I not know about this?"

Bian Xiu didn’t hide it: "The Chasm spans the Nine Nether Realm, born for the demon race. The Nine Nether Realm rightfully belongs to us demons. Why should half of it be occupied by the monster race? Your Excellency may be content with a corner, but the demons won’t think the same."

With these words, Bian Xiu’s ambition was laid bare, and even Que Zizhen frowned upon hearing it.

But this was a matter between the demon and monster races, and he had no standing to comment.

"You certainly have grand ambitions," Yuan Qichen said sarcastically. "Before unifying the Nine Nether Realm, shouldn’t you first deal with me, the derelict Demon Lord? Oh, I almost forgot—you’ve already tried, and more than once."

Bian Xiu’s mask nearly slipped: "This is destiny! All I’ve done is follow heaven’s will."

Yuan Qichen cursed, "Bullshit destiny! To dress up your ambition so elegantly—it’s a pity you’re not on the stage. I don’t care what you plan to do. Today’s events, and the incident fourteen years ago when you lured me to the Tang family to handle your dirty work—let’s settle these scores here and now!"

As soon as he struck, Yuan Qichen realized something was wrong. The Bian Xiu before him was even weaker than the Grand Protector, relying solely on his late-stage Great Perfection aura to boast in front of him.

This wasn’t the real Bian Xiu!

Yuan Qichen’s anger flared. With a few lashes, he revealed "Bian Xiu’s" true form.

It turned out to be a puppet infused with heartblood.

Yuan Qichen chuckled mirthlessly.

"A Chen…" Que Zizhen looked at him with concern.

Yuan Qichen’s expression was icy as he raised his hand and crushed the puppet. Infusing it with demonic energy, he broadcast his voice throughout the city: "I am Demon Lord Yuan Qichen. From this moment on, Wangran City belongs to me."

***

As the puppet vanished, Bian Xiu, connected to it by heartblood, suffered a backlash and violently spat blood.

"Brother!" Bian Xi, who was guarding nearby, rushed forward. "What happened?"

Bian Xiu raised a hand to stop him from helping, clutching his chest in pain. After a moment, he wiped the blood from his lips and replied, "It’s nothing. The puppet backlash. A few days of rest will suffice."

"The Grand Formation failed? But it was your years of effort, brother."

Bian Xi’s words reminded him of today’s failure.

"I never expected the Grand Formation to achieve much. Losing a few pawns to test Yuan Qichen’s depth isn’t a loss. I just never thought Que Zizhen would be there too."

Bian Xi didn’t overthink it and casually complained, "Those two are always in each other's pockets, inseparable. They’re truly troublesome. If they weren’t both men, one might think the Young Master of the Demon Realm was their child."

The idea was so absurd that Bian Xi got goosebumps just thinking about it.

"Always together?"

Bian Xiu couldn’t fathom something as unbelievable as Yuan Qichen bearing a child, but based on what he saw today and Bian Xi’s account, the two were indeed unusually close.

A faint, ironic smile curled his lips, momentarily making him forget the heavy cost of losing Wangran City: "Interesting. Truly interesting."

***

At that moment, Wangran City was enveloped in Que Zizhen’s ward—no one could enter or leave.

Yuan Qichen’s judgment was swift and merciless. By dawn, he had wiped out the city.

Though called a city, few remained.

After the night of internal slaughter, more than half had already perished. Those who practiced the Heart Devouring Art were beyond redemption. Yuan Qichen merely hastened their inevitable deaths, granting them a swift end.

Even so, reducing a city to ruins in the blink of an eye was no ordinary feat.

Wangran City was eerily silent. Que Zizhen lifted the ward, his expression compassionate: "I’ve informed my master, explaining the situation. With the Yu family precedent, the Various Immortal Sects will take it seriously."

"I don’t care about their lives. Why tell me this?" Yuan Qichen, still furious, felt a sudden stab of unease at Que Zizhen’s expression and grew even more irritated. "You handle your affairs; I’ll settle my scores."

Que Zizhen: "I know."

Damn it, what could you possibly know?

Yuan Qichen threw a punch at him, but Que Zizhen caught it midway.

"A Chen, I’m not a selfless saint." Que Zizhen lowered his head, pausing briefly as he fumbled for words. "It’s true I wanted to save people and curb the situation in time, but… I also selfishly thought that if they experienced the Heart Devouring Art firsthand, they’d understand the tragedy of the Tang family back then was never your intention."

Selfish wish, selfish wish…

He was Que Zizhen’s selfish wish.

Recalling it now, the man’s selfish wish had shown signs as early as their first meeting.

Yuan Qichen unclenched his fist and pressed it against Que Zizhen’s pounding heart. The answer he had persistently sought no longer needed to be asked.

Because at this moment, he was utterly certain: Que Zizhen’s heart loved him.

Once this truth was confirmed, his whole heart grew calm and certain.

"I want to return to the Ten Thousand Demons Cave and let that Bian fellow taste what it's like to be hunted by the entire demon realm."

***

Once back in his own territory, Yuan Qichen walked with an air of confidence. The disguise talisman had long been removed, and the alluring demon marks winding down to his jawline were vividly striking, almost climbing up to his cheeks.

Upon reaching the entrance of the demon palace hall, a woman dressed in white with white hair was waiting there. She showed no surprise upon seeing the two and respectfully said, "Greetings, my Lord."

Yuan Qichen casually waved his hand, using demonic energy to lift her up, while continuing to stride into the hall without stopping: "I've told you not to follow those cumbersome formalities from the Southern and Northern Realms. Why do you never listen?"

Que Zizhen, a native of the Southern Realm, remained silent.

The woman smiled gently: "In the demon realm, strength commands respect. This is what you deserve."

Yuan Qichen: "..."

Why does it always sound like an insult?

"Xi Yue." Yuan Qichen didn't bother arguing, "Do we have something like a bounty hunt order in our demon realm?"

The woman named Xi Yue's eyes lit up, and her entire demeanor instantly changed: "If you wish it, we can have one at any time."

Yuan Qichen was quite satisfied with this: "Good, then issue one on my behalf. The reward will be... a promise from me."

"If you intend to use the bounty hunt order to take the Jade Mountain Immortal Lord's life, I'm afraid it might be rather challenging." Xi Yue thought he was finally making his move against his arch-enemy.

"Who said I want to kill him!" Yuan Qichen was shocked and instinctively glanced at Que Zizhen.

Que Zizhen remained calm.

"Not killing him?" Xi Yue's tone actually sounded somewhat disappointed, "Then who are we killing?"

"Bian Xiu."

After a moment's thought, Xi Yue suddenly understood: "So it's him. Understood. From today onward, the Ten Thousand Demons Cave will spare no effort to hunt this person down, 'until death do us part'."

Yuan Qichen was intrigued by her reaction: "Do you know him?"

Xi Yue: "Not exactly, but I've heard of him. Before you took control of the demon realm, he was just one step short of ascending to the position of Demon Lord. His strength was quite impressive among the demon lords, but unfortunately, his ambition was too obvious."

As she spoke, she twirled a lock of hair around her finger: "As you know, my Lord, I've always hated trouble the most in my life, and I particularly dislike picking on the weak while fearing the strong. If you were to ask me to kill some Demon King or sect leader, I definitely couldn't do it."

Yuan Qichen made no comment, instead laughing and scolding: "So killing that Bian guy is fine?"

"Riding on your coattails and just flapping my gums is easy enough." Xi Yue blinked, then as if just noticing Que Zizhen, "Oh! Such a handsome young man, where did you bring him from, my Lord?"

"Celestial Pivot Palace."

"...My Lord, are you joking?"

Yuan Qichen smiled without answering, then calmly dropped another bombshell: "By the way, no need to prepare separate accommodations. He will stay with me."

Xi Yue's eyes widened instantly.

Living together?!

Did it mean what she thought it meant?

What about little Yuan Xiao?

"Wait, where's little Yuan Xiao? You, you, you... have you even abandoned little Yuan Xiao?!"

No one understood better than her how closely the Lord usually watched over the child. Yet after going out for a trip, his son was gone, and he brought back a handsome stranger.

How could this be?

Xi Yue wiped away imaginary tears: "Poor little Yuan Xiao, from now on he'll have to live with his Aunt Yue."

Was it really that exaggerated?

Yuan Qichen knew that Xi Yue's words were always half-truths and exaggerations, but seeing her like this made him feel somewhat uncomfortable.

"He's not a child anymore. He can take care of himself even without me... right?"

Xi Yue and Que Zizhen simultaneously sighed inwardly.

Between the father and son, it was never Yuan Xiao who couldn't live without the other, but Yuan Qichen himself.

"A Chen," Que Zizhen suddenly called out to him, "You exerted yourself greatly last night and should rest. Miss Xi Yue probably has important business to attend to as well."

The important matter naturally referred to issuing the bounty hunt order for Bian Xiu. Mentioning this, Yuan Qichen indeed stopped joking and instructed Xi Yue to ensure it was handled as soon as possible. Then, meeting her curious gaze, he took Que Zizhen's hand and led him to the inner chambers.

Xi Yue watched pensively as the two disappeared into the distance, then turned and conjured several silver messenger butterflies, announcing solemnly: "The Sixteen Generals of the Four Directions, come to the Ten Thousand Demons Cave immediately to receive orders."