Ren Zu slowly opened his eyes.
The first thing he noticed upon returning his senses to his body was the difference between his current physique and the one he had possessed before. Every physical aspect seemed to have been elevated to an entirely new level: strength, endurance, speed, even perception. Everything was immensely superior to what it had once been. The Dragon God Bloodline coursed vividly through his veins, and it was this that had granted him the so-called "Dragon God Physique"—a condition that transcended mere physical enhancement...
It wasn't just a matter of stronger muscles or quicker reflexes.
It was a complete transformation.
Even more so considering that the concentration of the Dragon God Bloodline within him was extraordinarily high...
Another thing he noticed was the unusual state of his profound energy. It felt almost liquid within his Profound Veins—not literally, but in its density and the pressure it exerted. It was as though an infinite ocean had been compressed inside his body, far too vast for the vessel containing it. The energy flowed heavily and thickly, to the point that it was beginning to feel somewhat uncomfortable. He needed to advance to the Divine Origin Realm as soon as possible...
His spiritual sense also quickly detected something new within his Profound Veins.
The Profound Veins inside a human body were like a robust, mature tree with many "branches" spreading in all directions, and each "branch" contained a Profound Entrance. As for the "trunk," it was the location of the most important core of the Profound Veins—the foundation of all Profound Veins. At that core, there were normally no Profound Entrances. However, at this moment, he was astonished to discover that at the core position of his Profound Veins, seven marks resembling Profound Entrances had appeared. Moreover, they were arranged in the formation of the Big Dipper's Seven Stars. Although they had the shape of Profound Entrances, these marks carried a completely different feeling compared to ordinary ones; he knew they were the Seven Gates—the Evil God's Secret Arts!
His Profound Veins were extraordinary thanks to the so-called "Primordial Chaos Liquid," an essence capable of turning something ordinary into an incomparable treasure. The amount of profound energy they could hold and release was countless times greater than that of any cultivator at the same level. Furthermore, they possessed unique characteristics, such as the so-called "peerless and instantaneous foundation"—a state that eliminated the need to slowly consolidate one's base. His foundation was born perfect, stable, and flawless, without any defects or impurities. In terms of rarity and value, they could perhaps even be compared to a Heavenly Profound Treasure...
And then there was the immortal blood he had absorbed.
After absorbing it, he had also inherited the Evil God's Profound Art—the legendary Evil God's Secret Arts. Unlike ordinary techniques, they did not require traditional cultivation. They existed directly within his Profound Veins, like a sealed inheritance waiting to be released. This Profound Art consisted of a total of seven great gates. At first glance, it might seem that opening a higher realm of the Secret Arts would unlock a gate. But in truth, the process was the opposite: every time a gate was opened, the Evil God's Secret Arts would advance an entire realm. And with each new realm reached, a corresponding Evil God Profound Technique would awaken...
Setting aside the changes in his body, he immediately realized where he was—the silk sheets, the fragrance lingering in the air... the distinctive scent of the Little Demon Empress's private chambers. He had missed this place.
His gaze swept across the room and he froze when he noticed his wife standing beside the bed. He had already sensed her presence long before, but somehow he knew he was in trouble—because those pitch-black eyes were staring down at him, completely cold and bearing the atypical gaze of the God of Death... Her long hair cascaded like a waterfall of ink over her shoulders, and her expression was a perfect mask of emotionlessness. She was wearing the gray robes she used to wear before their marriage. A thick killing intent, like nocturnal mist, emanated from her delicate frame and pressed against his chest—heavy enough to stop any other person's heart... But his heart did not waver, despite the surprise and the realization that he had done something wrong.
He simply smiled lightly.
"Caiyi," he greeted, his voice low and affectionate, as though he were waking up beside her on an ordinary morning. "Good morning… or would it be good afternoon? I lost track of time."
She did not respond.
She simply kept staring.
Her eyes seemed to pierce straight through to his soul.
Ren Zu propped himself up on his elbows, the movement slow and deliberate, showing no trace of fear or haste. He tilted his head slightly, his smile widening just a bit more.
"Is this the part where you throw yourself into my arms and say you missed me?"
Silence.
Then, the Little Demon Empress snorted—a short, cold, disdainful sound.
She crossed her arms and asked icily:
"Who. Are. The. Girls. You. Brought. Back?"
Each word came out separately, sharp as blades of ice.
Ren Zu blinked once. Twice.
Then, slowly, an expression of absolute innocence took over his flawless face. His dark eyes widened slightly, his brows rising in what appeared to be genuine—or at least masterfully feigned—surprise.
"Girls…?" he repeated, his voice rising in pitch in perfect imitation of confusion. "Ah… you mean Qingyue and Xue'er?"
He scratched the back of his neck lightly, the gesture almost childlike.
"Well… they ended up becoming my wives."
The silence that followed was so heavy it seemed to suck the air out of the room.
The Little Demon Empress did not blink. The killing intent surrounding her intensified—now it was no longer just pressure. It was an invisible blade pressed against his throat...
Ren Zu immediately raised his hands in surrender, the innocent smile never leaving his face.
"Calm down, Caiyi… it was all very… unexpected. Like, really unexpected. I swear I didn't plan any of this." He swallowed hard, sweat now freely running down his back. "It was… like… destiny? Luck? I'm innocent!"
The Little Demon Empress continued staring at him with an expression devoid of emotion. Then, in a low and deadly calm voice, she said:
"Explain."
Ren Zu felt his heart leap, wondering how he was supposed to explain to his wife that he had gone out and returned with more women. He opened his mouth, closed it, then sighed and decided to be honest:
"…This is going to take a while."
The Little Demon Empress did not move. She simply kept staring...
Her eyes remained fixed on him...
"Explain. Now." Her voice came out low, almost a whisper, yet laden with a threat that seemed to freeze the air around them. The killing intent radiating from her condensed even further, pressing against Ren Zu's chest like an invisible hand slowly closing around his heart. "Because if you don't explain right now… this Empress will have to take certain measures..."
Ren Zu swallowed hard once more. Sweat trickled down his back, but his face retained that almost childlike innocent expression—like a husband caught red-handed trying to charm his way out of trouble. He raised his hands again in complete surrender, his smile trembling slightly.
"Alright, alright… I'll explain." He sat up fully on the bed, crossing his legs with a long, theatrical sigh, as though preparing to tell a long and complicated story.
"First… Xia Qingyue."
He raised one finger.
"She is, in fact, my fiancée from my blood family. I ended up saving her from death at the hands of a Tyrant Profound Beast, and we spent some time together in a certain valley. We learned about that connection, one thing led to another, and we ended up together... Which makes her my wife now..."
He raised a second finger.
"Second… Feng Xue'er."
His smile became a little crooked, almost guilty.
"She was the Divine Phoenix Princess. When I conquered the Divine Phoenix Empire by force, the emperor, to avoid total destruction, offered his own daughter as a political bride. It was a forced alliance, but… Xue'er accepted it with her heart. We ended up developing real feelings for each other. So yes, she is also my wife now."
He spread his hands, the expression of absolute innocence returning to his face.
"There. That's it. There's no one else. Just those two. And you, of course. Always you first..."
Silence.
The Little Demon Empress continued staring at him.
Ren Zu felt a chill run down his spine.
"…Caiyi?" he tried, hesitant. "Darling? My empress? My life? My absolute and unquestionable queen?"
Nothing.
Then, finally, she spoke. Her voice came out low, icy, cutting like a blade of black ice.
"You. Left. For. Some. Time. And. Came. Back. With. Two. New. Wives."
Each word was a verdict.
Ren Zu opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Opened it again.
"…Sorry?"
His smile was now purely nervous.
The Little Demon Empress took one step forward, then another.
Ren Zu instinctively shrank back against the headboard, hands still raised.
"Caiyi… wait… we can talk like two civilized adults, right? Like… I love you, you love me, this doesn't change anything between us, right? Right?!"
The Little Demon Empress stopped just a few centimeters away from him, her small but imposing figure radiating pressure that made the air vibrate.
"You should have thought of that before breaking the promise you made to this Empress..." she said in a completely emotionless voice.
Ren Zu held her gaze for a long moment. The nervous smile slowly faded, replaced by a more serious, calmer expression. He sighed, the sound heavy and genuine.
"This doesn't change what I feel for you, Caiyi. Not even a little."
Her steps halted.
The darkness in her eyes flickered—just a fraction of a second, but enough for him to notice. The killing intent hanging in the air seemed to waver, like a flame exposed to a sudden gust of wind...
Ren Zu didn't wait for her to reply.
With a slow, deliberate movement, he extended his arms and pulled her delicate figure toward him.
The Little Demon Empress did not resist. Her small body settled naturally against his as he sat on the bed. Her legs instinctively parted, wrapping around his waist with near-unconscious precision, as though that place had always belonged to her. Her slender arms encircled his neck, her black hair falling like a curtain of ink over him...
He pressed her against his chest, his chin gently resting atop her head.
"There wasn't a single moment during these past months that I didn't think of you..." he murmured softly into her hair. "I missed you, Caiyi..."
The Little Demon Empress remained motionless for long seconds. Her small body trembled slightly—not from anger, but from something deeper. A mixture of relief, pain, and a longing she would never admit aloud.
Then, slowly, her arms tightened around his neck.
"…Idiot… This Empress was worried because you took so long. And when you finally return… you still bring other women with you? Do you have any idea how angry that made this Empress?" She whispered against his chest, her voice muffled by his clothing, laden with indignation and something more fragile hidden behind her haughty tone. "Also… when I woke up, this Empress saw you collapse unconscious right in front of me!"
The words came out quickly, almost tumbling over one another, as though she had held them back for far too long. Her fingers clenched tightly into his clothes, betraying what her proud posture tried to conceal.
Ren Zu sighed into her black hair.
"I know how you must be feeling. It also wasn't in my plans to arrive just as the Demon Imperial City was under attack. After I nearly killed the enemy, I never imagined I would forcibly absorb several Divine Legacies and end up passing out while refining them. Sorry for that..."
He held her even tighter, feeling the warmth of her body mingle with his, the familiar scent of his beloved wife...
"I won't apologize for bringing them..." he continued, his voice now firm. "Because I love them too. But I will apologize for making you wait. For making you worry. That… I promise will never happen again. I'll stay by your side for as long as you want from now on..."
The Little Demon Empress slowly lifted her face. Her eyes were faintly moist—just a subtle sheen, almost imperceptible, but it was there.
She stared at him for long seconds.
Then, in a voice that tried to sound cold but failed miserably:
"…You are a complete idiot."
Ren Zu chuckled softly, the sound vibrating against her chest.
"I know."
He brought his hand to her face, his thumb gently tracing the delicate line of her jaw.
"But I'm your idiot."
The Little Demon Empress huffed, but did not pull away.
Ren Zu pulled her into a tight embrace, feeling the warmth of her small body blend with his, bringing back the sense of home he had missed for all those months. The Little Demon Empress did not push him away and nestled into his embrace...
After a few moments, he finally loosened his hold just enough to look into her eyes, his thumb softly tracing the delicate contour of her jaw once more.
"Where are Qingyue and Xue'er?" he asked, his voice low and calm, without any trace of anxiety, but carrying genuine concern.
The Little Demon Empress raised a slender eyebrow, her expression returning to a cold, controlled mask. She pulled back slightly, but not enough to leave his lap—her legs still wrapped possessively around Ren Zu's waist.
"They are being attended to by the palace maids..." she replied, her tone dry and cutting. "Don't worry about it."
Her expression was distinctly unpleasant—lips pressed into a thin line, eyes narrowed, an almost palpable aura of disdain. It was the kind of look that would make anyone tremble, but Ren Zu simply sighed, the sound long and resigned.
"Good."
He did not press further. He asked no more details. He simply accepted the answer with a slight nod, as though he knew that pushing now would only make things worse...
Caiyi huffed coldly, crossing her arms over her chest while still seated in his lap.
"Are you not afraid that this Empress might kill them if I don't find them agreeable?"
Ren Zu looked straight into her eyes. The small smile returned to his lips, but this time it was genuine, without any trace of nervousness or pretense.
"Not even a little afraid." He raised his hand and gently touched her face, his thumb tracing the delicate line of her pale cheek as he gazed at her calmly. "We've already discussed this several times. I know you were angry because I disappeared for months… and then came back bringing other women with me. That was the initial reason for your anger. Even though you missed me… when you saw me wake up, the first thing you wanted was an explanation. And you're also jealous at the possibility of having to share me with them. But I know that, deep down, that's not what truly hurts you. You yourself once offered to let me sleep with the maids… said I could find other women in the Illusory Demon Realm, remember? Well, saying it is one thing, but explaining feelings is another..."
The Little Demon Empress stared at him for long seconds. Her perfect, delicate face now displayed an expression that was difficult to describe. It was a complex mixture of emotions...
"But now... Let me make up for lost time with my wife..." Ren Zu finished, and began sliding her dress upward from below.
The Little Demon Empress did not resist his touch.
Her eyes trembled slightly as the gray dress slid upward, revealing the immaculate, pale skin of her legs. They were long, slender, perfect—like living sculptures of milky white jade, gleaming with a soft luster that captured the dim light of the room and reflected it back as though polished by divine hands. In the entire world, only Ren Zu knew just how alluring those legs truly were...
He traced his fingers along the inner curve of her thigh, feeling the subtle tremor that ran through her small body.
The Little Demon Empress huffed softly, but did not push him away. Instead, she lifted her chin, eyes half-lidded in a mixture of challenge and restrained desire.
"…Do you think this will make me forgive you?" she murmured, her voice husky, almost a purr disguised as reproach.
Ren Zu smiled against her skin, his lips brushing the curve of her knee as he slowly, deliberately moved upward.
"No. But it will make up for lost time."
And with that, the two spent several hours making up for the longing they had felt for each other, leaving a certain Divine Master with her face completely flushed as she watched...
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