Chapter 29
Seeing the century-old dead tree that had helped dispel the plague, Bai Jiu fell silent.
The rough bark reminded him of another tree.
Another memory.
His mother.
The tree demon that had harmed her.
The fear he thought he had buried long ago suddenly returned.
His hands tightened unconsciously.
Zhou Yi Chen noticed immediately.
The young doctor’s face had gone pale.
“Bai Jiu.”
The teenager looked up.
“Hm?”
For a moment, Zhou Yi Chen simply stood beside him.
Then he spoke quietly.
“You’re still afraid.”
Bai Jiu forced a laugh.
“A little.”
“A lot.”
“…A lot.”
Bai Jiu lowered his head.
“When I see trees like this…”
“I remember her.”
The wind rustled through the branches.
Zhou Yi Chen looked at the ancient tree.
Then back at Bai Jiu.
“When I was younger, I thought strength meant never being afraid.”
“But that’s not true.”
“What is, then?”
Zhou Yi Chen folded his arms.
“The ice of a frozen lake looks strong.”
“But beneath it, water still moves.”
“Fear doesn’t disappear.”
“Pain doesn’t disappear.”
“We simply learn to walk forward despite it.”
The young doctor stared at him…
Zhou Yi Chen’s voice softened.
“We have to face what frightens us.”
“We have to face what hurts us.”
“Otherwise those memories will control us forever.”
“What if I can’t?”
“You can.”
“How do you know?”
“Because you’re still here.”
Bai Jiu froze.
“You became a doctor.”
“You help people every day.”
Zhou Yi Chen lightly tapped Bai Jiu’s forehead.
“And you’re still standing.”
The young doctor’s eyes widened.
For once, he had nothing to say.
Nearby, Zhao Yuanzhou watched quietly.
A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
There it was again.
That quality Zhou Yi Chen never noticed in himself.
The ability to make people stand back up.
Bai Jiu took a deep breath.
Then another.
The fear remained.
But somehow it felt smaller.
“Thank you, Gege.”
Zhou Yi Chen nodded.
“Good.”
Then his expression returned to normal.
“Now stop looking so miserable.”
“What?”
“We still have work.”
Bai Jiu laughed despite himself.
From behind them, Zhao Yuanzhou finally spoke.
“Our commander is surprisingly wise today.”
Zhou Yi Chen immediately turned.
“Don’t start.”
“I was complimenting you.”
“Don’t.”
“I can continue.”
“Don’t.”
“You looked very handsome while giving that speech.”
Ying Lei whispered, “And peace lasted exactly seven seconds.”
The entire group burst into laughter.
Even Bai Jiu.
And for the first time since entering Sinan Water Town, the heaviness in his heart eased a little.
❄️❄️❄️❄️✨✨✨✨⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️
That night, Sinan Water Town was brighter than it had been in years.
The plague had passed.
The streets were alive again.
Lanterns swayed above the river, reflecting countless colors across the water.
Fireworks burst overhead.
For once, the Demon Hunting Team had scattered to enjoy themselves…
Wen Xiao was bargaining with a merchant.
Ying Lei was arguing with a cook about seasoning.
Bai Jiu had somehow acquired three bags of snacks.
And Zhao Yuanzhou…
had somehow ended up alone with Zhou Yi Chen.
Again.
The two walked along the riverbank in comfortable silence.
A firework exploded above them.
Gold and silver light spilled across the sky.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Zhou Yi Chen suddenly stopped.
Zhao Yuanzhou turned.
“What is it?”
The younger man’s gaze remained fixed on the river.
His voice was unusually quiet.
“What was I to you?”
The smile on Zhao Yuanzhou’s face faded.
“What do you mean?”
Zhou Yi Chen finally looked at him.
Moonlight reflected in his eyes.
“I’ve been thinking.”
“The dreams.”
“The memories.”
“The mark.”
“The way Li Lun talks.”
“The way you look at me.”
Zhao Yuanzhou’s fingers tightened slightly around the gourd at his waist.
A strange tension settled between them.
Then Zhou Yi Chen asked the question directly.
“I was your lover.”
For the first time all evening, Zhao Yuanzhou looked away.
His silence was answer enough.
Zhou Yi Chen laughed softly.
A bitter sound.
“So I was right.”
“Yi Chen…”
“You killed me.”
The words landed heavily.
No accusation.
No anger.
Just a simple truth.
“You killed me in the last cycle..or at least that’s what I saw in my memories..”
Zhao Yuanzhou closed his eyes.
For a moment, the immortal demon looked older than the mountains.
When he opened them again, there was pain there.
Ancient pain.
“I did.
Zhou Yi Chen felt his chest tighten.
“Why?”
Zhao Yuanzhou’s lips parted.
Then closed again.
Countless emotions crossed his face.
Regret.
Sorrow.
Longing.
Guilt.
More than anything-
guilt.
Finally, he shook his head.
“I can’t tell you yet.”
Zhou Yi Chen frowned.
“Why not?”
“Because if I tell you now…”
The demon’s voice became rough.
“…you’ll only have half the story.”
The river wind stirred his dark hair.
Zhao Yuanzhou looked toward the fireworks.
“I promised myself something a long time ago.”
“What?”
“When the time came…”
His golden eyes returned to Zhou Yi Chen.
“…I would tell you everything.”
“But not here.”
“Not now.”
“When then?”
A faint smile appeared.
“When we return from this mission…”
Zhou Yi Chen studied him carefully.
Trying to determine whether he was lying.
Whether he was avoiding the answer.
For once-
he wasn’t.
The sincerity was unmistakable.
“Are you sure?”
The question was almost a whisper.
Zhao Yuanzhou smiled.
A sad smile.
“I’m sure.”
“If you still want the answer then…”
His gaze softened.
“…I’ll tell you everything.”
For several moments, neither spoke.
Then Zhou Yi Chen sighed.
“Fine.”
The demon immediately brightened.
“Fine?”
“Don’t make me regret it. And I never would actually like the concept of being your lover.”
“That was rude…”
Zhou Yi Chen rolled his eyes and continued walking.
Zhao Yuanzhou followed beside him.
The heaviness of the conversation gradually faded beneath the sounds of the festival.
Soon they found themselves among the market stalls.
Vendors called out to customers.
Children chased lanterns.
Musicians played near the bridge.
For the first time that night, Zhao Yuanzhou seemed genuinely relaxed.
Then he suddenly stopped.
A small jewelry stall.
The merchant was selling hairpins.
Jade.
Silver.
Wood.
Pearls.
Before Zhou Yi Chen could react, Zhao Yuanzhou had already stepped forward…
The vendor grinned.
“Buying a gift for your partner?”
Zhou Yi Chen nearly choked.
“What?!”
The merchant looked confused.
“Not husband?”
“No!”
“Not yet, but soon to be.” Zhao Yuanzhou corrected.
“ZHOU YUANZHOU.”
Zhao Yuanzhou emerged holding a silver hairpin.
Delicate.
Elegant.
A small crystal flower carved at its end.
He held it out.
Zhou Yi Chen stared.
“What is this?”
“A hairpin.”
“I know that.”
“I bought it for you.”
“Why?”
Zhao Yuanzhou blinked.
“As a gift?”
“For what?”
“For existing.”
The answer came so naturally that Zhou Yi Chen was briefly speechless.
The demon smiled.
The same smile he always wore when looking at him.
Warm.
Familiar.
The kind of smile that felt as though it belonged to another lifetime.
“You looked at it three times.”
The commander looked away.
Which was essentially a confession.
Zhao Yuanzhou’s smile widened.
For once, Zhou Yi Chen didn’t return the hairpin.
Instead, after a long pause, he quietly accepted it.
The immortal demon’s eyes softened.
Above them, another firework exploded across the night sky.
And for the briefest moment-
standing beneath the lights of the festival-
it almost felt as though fate had decided to be kind….
❄️❄️❄️✨✨✨✨⚔️⚔️⚔️
The festival gradually faded behind them.
The noise of the market became distant.
The lanterns became scattered lights along the river.
Without realizing it, Zhou Yi Chen and Zhao Yuanzhou had walked far beyond the town.
The path eventually led them to a quiet hillside overlooking the water.
Wildflowers swayed in the night breeze.
Above them, countless stars stretched across the sky.
The two sat beneath an ancient tree overlooking the river below.
A cool wind drifted through the grass.
For several minutes neither spoke.
Zhou Yi Chen absentmindedly turned the silver hairpin in his fingers.
The one Zhao Yuanzhou had bought.
The demon noticed.
His smile was immediate.
“You kept it.”
“I didn’t throw it away , because I respect the ornament and the maker..”
Zhou Yi Chen sighed.
“You are impossible.”
“And yet here you are.”
The answer earned him a glare.
One he seemed far too pleased to receive.
Another comfortable silence settled between them.
A shooting star streaked across the sky.
Neither pointed it out.
Somehow they both noticed it anyway.
Then slowly-
their conversation faded completely.
Zhou Yi Chen found himself looking at Zhao Yuanzhou.
Really looking.
The moonlight softened the demon’s features.
His dark hair moved gently in the wind.
Golden eyes reflected the stars above.
For once, there was no teasing.
As if the weight of countless years had finally settled.
Perhaps sensing the stare, Zhao Yuanzhou looked back.
Their eyes met.
Neither looked away.
The night suddenly felt very still.
Too still.
Zhou Yi Chen wasn’t sure why his heart was beating faster.
Or why he couldn’t seem to break eye contact.
There was something familiar about this moment.
Painfully familiar.
As though it had happened before.
Long ago.
In another life.
The breeze stirred.
A strand of hair fell across Zhou Yi Chen’s face.
Without thinking, Zhao Yuanzhou reached out.
His fingers brushed it aside.
The touch was brief.
Gentle.
Yet neither moved afterward.
The distance between them felt much smaller than before.
Zhou Yi Chen could hear his own heartbeat.
Could hear Zhao Yuanzhou breathing.
For the first time in a long time, the immortal demon seemed uncertain.
Almost nervous.
“Yi Chen…”
His voice was soft.
The kind of voice he rarely used.
Zhou Yi Chen swallowed.
Neither looked away.
For one suspended moment-
it felt as though the entire world had disappeared.
The stars.
The river.
The night.
Everything faded.
Leaving only the two of them.
Zhou Yi Chen found himself leaning forward slightly.
Without realizing it.
Without intending to.
And Zhao Yuanzhou didn’t move away.
His gaze lowered briefly.
Then returned to Zhou Yi Chen’s eyes.
The distance between them narrowed.
A breath.
Two breaths.
Then-
A loud explosion echoed from somewhere below.
Followed by an unmistakable shout…
“COMMANDER!”
Both men jumped apart instantly.
Bai Jiu’s voice carried up the hillside.
“COMMANDER, WHERE ARE YOU?!”
A second voice followed.
“FOUND THEM!”
Ying Lei.
Of course it was Ying Lei.
Zhou Yi Chen immediately covered his face.
Mortified.
Zhao Yuanzhou stared at the sky.
As if questioning every decision fate had ever made.
A moment later, Bai Jiu and Ying Lei appeared at the top of the hill.
The young doctor blinked.
Then looked between them.
Then looked again.
“…Were we interrupting something?”
“No.”
“Yes,” Zhao Yuanzhou answered.
“ZHOU YUANZHOU.”
“One day, Bai Jiu.”
“What?”
“I am confiscating all your timing.”
The young doctor looked completely confused.
Meanwhile, Zhou Yi Chen stood up immediately.
“We’re leaving.”
“Running away?”
“I am not running away.”
“You absolutely are…”
“I will throw you into the river…it was all your doing.”
Zhao Yuanzhou laughed.
And despite himself-
Zhou Yi Chen felt the corners of his mouth lift as well.
Just slightly.
Enough for Zhao Yuanzhou to notice.
Enough for him to treasure it.