Chapter 32
The atmosphere at the gates of Kunlun was solemn.
Ancient.
Sacred.
The clouds drifted slowly across the mountains.
Divine energy flowed through the stone pathways.
Then Ying Lei ruined it.
“Grandpa!”
Ying Zhao closed his eyes.
The expression of a man who suddenly regretted having descendants.
Zhu Yin quietly stepped farther away.
Pretending not to know either of them.
Ying Lei looked offended.
“What was that for?”
“No reason.”
“Grandpa.”
“No reason at all.”
Wen Xiao almost laughed.
After the brief family reunion, everyone’s attention returned to the matter at hand.
Ying Zhao’s gaze swept across the group.
Then landed on Wen Xiao.
The old mountain god’s expression softened.
“The wilderness has suffered greatly.”
His voice echoed through the valley.
“Since the disappearance of the Baize Goddess, the Great Wilderness has steadily declined.”
“The barriers weakened.”
“The constellations dimmed.”
“The balance between humans and demons fractured.”
Wen Xiao lowered her head slightly.
Ying Zhao smiled.
“But fortunately…”
“The Goddess has returned.”
Wen Xiao blinked.
“Me?”
“The twenty-eight constellations have begun awakening again.”
“The wilderness can finally be restored.”
Everyone visibly relaxed.
Even Zhao Yuanzhou.
But only for a moment.
Because another question still remained.
A question that had been bothering him ever since Chenghuang’s defeat.
The ancient demon glanced toward Zhou Yi Chen.
The commander stood silently nearby.
“There is something I don’t understand.”
Ying Zhao looked at him.
“What is it?”
Zhao Yuanzhou folded his arms.
“For thousands of years…”
“I never sensed the existence of the Baize Order.”
“Not once.”
“Then suddenly-“
He glanced toward Zhou Yi Chen.
“The mark appeared on him.”
Everyone immediately became attentive.
Even Zhou Yi Chen.
The commander crossed his arms.
“I’d also like an explanation.”
“I don’t belong to the Baize bloodline.”
“I’ve checked.”
The old mountain god studied them both quietly.
Then-
a strange smile appeared.
“What? My Lord.” Zhou Yi Chen asked.
Ying Zhao chuckled.
“So that’s what happened.”
“What happened?”
The old mountain god looked directly at Zhao Yuanzhou.
Then at Zhou Yi Chen.
Then back at Zhao Yuanzhou.
Then back at Zhou Yi Chen.
Finally Ying Zhao spoke.
“The mark appeared because of a bond.”
Silence.
“What bond?” Zhou Yi Chen asked.
Ying Zhao’s smile widened.
“A bond from the past.”
The wind seemed to pause.
Zhao Yuanzhou froze.
For the first time all day.
The old mountain god continued.
“The red thread between the two of you was never severed.”
Absolute silence.
“What red thread?”
“Throughout history, those who governed the Baize Order-“
“Whether human or demon-“
“Could only awaken its complete power under specific circumstances.”
Wen Xiao leaned forward.
“What circumstances?”
Ying Zhao answered calmly.
“When mutual feelings existed.”
The mountain became silent.
Completely silent.
Nobody moved.
Nobody breathed.
Then-
Bai Jiu slowly turned.
Toward Zhou Yi Chen.
Then toward Zhao Yuanzhou.
Then back again.
His eyes widened.
“Oh.”
Pei Sijing covered his ears.
Out of habit.
“What?”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“I’m worried about it.”
Meanwhile-
Zhou Yi Chen looked as if someone had struck him with his own sword.
“What?”
The commander stared at Ying Zhao.
“That’s impossible.”
“Is it?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
The argument happened so quickly even Zhao Yuanzhou seemed stunned.
For once.
The old mountain god simply smiled.
“You asked why the mark appeared.”
“That is the answer.”
Then the old mountain god casually added:
“Well.”
“If the bond is truly that strong…”
“A wedding would probably solve several issues.”
The world stopped.
Absolutely stopped.
Bai Jiu made a choking noise.
Wen Xiao nearly fell over.
Pei Sijing physically turned away.
Ying Lei slapped his knee.
“I KNEW IT.”
“GRANDPA!”
Zhou Yi Chen’s face turned completely red.
“WHAT?”
Ying Zhao nodded thoughtfully.
“It would strengthen the connection.”
“Stabilize the resonance.”
“Improve compatibility.”
“Benefit the Baize Order.”
“GRANDPA!”
Ying Lei was crying with laughter now.
Zhao Yuanzhou looked far too pleased.
Far.
Too.
Pleased.
The ancient demon even had the audacity to clear his throat.
“Well…”
Everyone looked at him.
“If it’s for the greater good-“
The Yun Guang Sword instantly appeared.
“Finish that sentence.”
“I was supporting scientific research.”
“LIAR.”
The old mountain god laughed openly.
Even Zhu Yin’s lips twitched slightly.
For the next ten minutes-
nobody discussed the Baize Order.
Because Zhou Yi Chen was busy threatening everyone present.
Especially one very happy ancient demon.
❄️❄️❄️✨✨✨✨⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️