Silence filled the Royal Hall. With one knee on the ground and his right hand over his chest, Yun Qinghong patiently waited for Huan Caiyi.
The sound of footsteps filled the silent hall as Huan Caiyi and Yun Che walked out of the tomb.
"Stand up, Clan Head," Huan Caiyi sat on her throne and ordered Yun Qinghong.
"Is there anything this subject can do for you, Little Demon Empress?"
"Hundred Region Ceremony is coming soon. This empress shall officially take the throne of the Demon Empress that day!"
"That's great news!" Yun Qinghong exclaimed excitedly.
He did not pinpoint the fact that one cannot become the Demon Emperor without the Demon Emperor's Seal.
Leaving the seal aside, Huan Caiyi had shown her unquestionable strength so that no one would disagree with her.
"Mhm. This empress shall also announce her spouse during the ceremony."
Yun Qinghong's eyes unconsciously went towards Yun Che. He knew their relationship was not weak, but even he did not expect this.
"But…"
"He is personally accepted by the Lord Golden Crow. There is no need to worry about anything else."
"Since that's the case, this subject will no longer say anything and prepare for the grand event."
Yun Qinghong was worried that the bloodline of the Golden Crow would thin, but since the Golden Crow herself picked Yun Che, he did not see any reason to question the authority of the Divine Beast.
A silence entered between them which was finally broken by Yun Che.
"Clan Head Yun, you have asked my name before, right?"
"If it is not presumptuous of me, then I would love to know the name of my benefactor."
"Hm." Yun Che nodded. After a small pause, he added, "My name is Yun Che."
Yun Qinghong's body suddenly trembled. His eyes covered in disbelief, and his heart started to beat faster.
"I was born in the Profound Sky Continent and raised by my adopted family in a small city called Floating Cloud City." Yun Che stared at the disbelieving expression of Yun Qinghong and continued. "My father was named Xiao Ying, though I've never met him before since he died when I was young. Once I reached an appropriate age, I found out that I was an adopted son. And the only hint given to me about my real parents was this mirror."
"Mirror of Samsara!?" Huan Caiyi's eyes widened in astonishment.
Mirror of Samsara, the family heirloom of the Demon Imperial Family, was lost some two decades ago when Yun Qinghong, with his wife, had taken it with them to exchange for Yun Canghai.
Huan Caiyi did not imagine seeing it again.
"Clan Head Yun, are you familiar with this?"
Huan Caiyi looked at a shaken Yun Qinghong and her eyes trembled.
As a smart woman, she instantly deduced many things. Her expression constricted, but it soon returned to neutral.
Huan Caiyi was a woman of commitment and sheer will. Since she had accepted Yun Che as her husband, no matter his origin, she would not change her decision.
Not adding the fact that she already…
"I-I… This…" Yun Qinghong's mind was blank, and he could not come up with a coherent thought process. "A-are you really… Yun Che? My son Yun Che?"
"If there is no other Yun Che with this mirror and background, then that should be me." Yun Che wryly smiled.
He really wasn't good with this type of setting. It was the same with Ling'er when he had a hard time controlling his emotions. Now he felt the same towards Yun Qinghong. The feeling of longing for the original Yun Che was too strong, and it made him feel awkward and weird.
Yun Qinghong felt as if the whole world had gone dark and his blood had gone cold. He looked at Yun Che, and tears filled his gaze, making it hazy and watery.
His heart beat so fast that if one stood near him, they would be able to hear the sound of his heart beating.
"My… child…" Yun Qinghong took a step forward but stopped. As if what he wanted to say had stuck in his throat, no words came out from his mouth.
"... Father, calm down. You will make your future daughter-in-law awkward."
Yun Che's sentence aroused a glare from Huan Caiyi and a horrified expression from Yun Qinghong.
Remembering what Huan Caiyi had said before, doesn't that mean he was going to be the father-in-law of the Little Demon Empress? The thought alone made his body cold, causing him to instantly kneel before Huan Caiyi and bang his head on the ground loudly.
"F-forgive my child, Little Demon Empress! H-He didn't know—"
"Humph. Do you take this empress for a petty woman, Clan Head Yun?" With a slight awkwardness, Huan Caiyi said. "Today's a joyous occasion for your Yun Family. Not only has your son returned, but he is also such an excellent person too. Do not destroy such moments."
She closed her eyes and took a small pause.
"Of course this empress understands the meaning of marrying your son. But since it is the order of the Golden Crow, this empress can only abide by it."
Yun Che smiled wryly.
Huan Caiyi made it sound like it was not her choice to marry him, but because it was the order of the Golden Crow, she decided to abide by it.
Knowing her personality, Yun Che knew she would never admit her feelings for him openly ever.
Huan Caiyi was too proud of a woman for that.
'But that's what I like about her. Prideful and arrogant, her charm shines like the brightest star when she is within her zone. Makes me want to discuss the truth of heavens and earth with her, alone of course.'
"I have another thing to add, Father." Yun Che gained their attention before he snapped his fingers.
Using his other authority, [Unit Arrangement], he instantly summoned the confused Yun Canghai.
He only wore pants and was naked from above. From his getup, Yun Che knew he was probably sunbathing with Xiao Lie; these two liked sunbathing way too much.
"W-what the fuck? What is going on?" Yun Canghai said in bafflement before his eyes landed on Yun Qinghong, they instantly brightened.
"Hahaha, if it isn't my son! Look at you, crying and weeping just by meeting your father! Aren't you a filial son? Hahaha!"
"..." Everyone stared at Yun Canghai dumbfoundedly.
"Che'er, at least inform grandpa that you are going to summon him. You scared the shit out of me."
"F-Father!?" Yun Qinghong shouted, his face dyed with unbelievable emotions.
"Why are you shouting so loudly? You are going to make this old man go deaf. Hahaha! I heard from Yun Che that you are the current head of the Yun Family. Are you afraid that this Demon King will take away your position? Well, worry not, I care not about power any longer. This old man just wants to live his life surrounded by my grandchildren now."
Yun Canghai operated on his own waves. He did not bother checking where he was or who was present; he kept on laughing and talking.
"On the talk of children, Che'er, when are you going to make your wives pregnant? It's almost been since you married them. Don't tell me you are impotent?!"
Absolute silence.
Yun Canghai suddenly felt as if the temperature has increased in the surroundings. He felt incomparable heat from behind, causing him to turn around.
His body instantly froze as his eyes met with the crimson glowing eyes of Huan Caiyi.
"This empress sees that you have been enjoying your life within the Profound Sky Continent, Demon King Canghai. So much that you even dare to talk so brutishly in front of this empress. This empress is amazed."
"Li-Little Demon Empress!" A loud 'thud' sound resounded, and Yun Canghai hit his head on the ground. "This old man did not see you there! Please forgive this old man!"
Sweat traveled down his forehead, Yun Canghai felt as if he was put in a fire stake. Like food ready to be cooked. He glared towards the amusingly smiling Yun Che, wanting to slap him.
His own grandson got him good this time.
"Sigh… forget it. Instead, explain to this empress everything that happened within the Profound Sky Continent. This empress is curious to hear your tale."
"I understand!"
...
Feng Xue'er coming soon~
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