Chapter 61
The moment Ying Long’s final trace disappeared, the world of stars shattered like glass.
The endless sky.
The ancient memories.
Bing Yi and Ying Long.
Everything faded into countless fragments of light.
A freezing wind swept past.
Then warmth returned.
The thick ice encasing Zhao Yuanzhou and Zhuo Yichen began to crack.
Tiny fractures spread across the crystalline surface.
Crack.
Crack.
Crack.
Suddenly-
the ice exploded into sparkling shards.
Both of them stumbled forward.
Blinking.
Disoriented.
And in the next instant-
they found themselves standing in the courtyard of the Demon Investigation Bureau.
As if they had never left.
“ZHOU YICHEN!”
“ZHAO YUANZHOU!”
Wen Xiao nearly dropped what she was holding.
Ying Lei jumped up so quickly he almost tripped over a chair.
Even Pei Sijing’s usually calm expression cracked with relief.
“You two are back!”
Before anyone could say another word, Wen Xiao rushed over and checked Yichen’s pulse.
Ying Lei circled Zhao Yuanzhou twice as if confirming he wasn’t another illusion.
Pei Sijing simply folded her arms.
Though the slight redness in her eyes betrayed how worried she had been.
Meanwhile-
Zhao Yuanzhou and Zhuo Yichen exchanged a glance.
A very long glance.
Neither spoke.
Neither mentioned Ying Long.
Or Bing Yi.
Or the promise beneath the stars.
That memory belonged only to them.
A secret carefully tucked away between two hearts.
The corner of Zhao Yuanzhou’s mouth lifted slightly.
Yichen immediately looked away.
As if his hand hadn’t instinctively reached for Zhao Yuanzhou’s sleeve.
Again.
Pei Sijing narrowed her eyes.
“Why did you two leave to bingyi grounds without us?”
“No worries , but I am a demon now…I consumed the elixir.”
Yichen immediately changed the subject.
“What happened while we were gone?”
Wen Xiao rolled her eyes but decided to let it go.
For now.
Then her attention shifted back to Yichen.
Actually-
everyone’s attention shifted back to Yichen.
Because something was different.
Very different.
The demonic energy that had once been unstable was now calm.
Controlled.
Flowing naturally through him.
The black markings on his neck had faded into faint silver patterns.
Ancient.
Beautiful.
Almost like scales.
Wen Xiao stared.
Then stared harder.
Then pointed dramatically.
“Wait.”
Everyone froze.
“What is your true form now?”
The courtyard became quiet.
Ying Lei immediately gasped.
“Oh right!”
Pei Sijing raised an eyebrow.
“You have Bing Yi blood.”
“And Ying Long’s dragon bone.”
Wen Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
“You might actually be a dragon.”
Ying Lei became excited instantly.
“A giant dragon!”
“The kind that flies across the sky!”
“No.”
Wen Xiao interrupted.
“A beautiful silver dragon.”
“No.”
Ying Lei argued.
“A golden one.”
“No.”
Pei Sijing added dryly.
“Probably a terrifying one.”
All three turned toward Yichen.
Waiting.
Yichen folded his arms.
His expression remained perfectly serious.
“I don’t know.”
Everyone immediately turned toward Zhao Yuanzhou.
The demon considered the question carefully.
Very carefully.
As if making a profound judgment.
Then he nodded.
“I know.”
The others leaned closer.
“What is it?”
Zhao Yuanzhou looked at Yichen.
Then smiled.
A dangerous smile.
The kind that always meant trouble.
“Definitely not a dragon.”
Yichen frowned.
“What do you mean?”
Zhao Yuanzhou pointed at him confidently.
“He’s a mule.”
Silence.
Complete silence.
“A very stubborn mule.”
Ying Lei immediately burst out laughing.
Wen Xiao nearly choked.
Even Pei Sijing turned away to hide her smile.
Yichen stared at him.
Unmoving.
Expressionless.
Dangerously expressionless.
Zhao Yuanzhou continued.
“Think about it.”
“Stubborn.”
“Never listens.”
“Carries everyone’s problems.”
“Refuses to admit when he’s worried.”
“Works himself half to death.”
“The evidence is overwhelming.”
Ying Lei was laughing so hard he could barely stand.
Wen Xiao leaned against a pillar for support.
Pei Sijing finally gave up and laughed openly.
Only Zhuo Yichen remained motionless.
For three full seconds.
Then-
he stepped on Zhao Yuanzhou’s foot.
Hard.
The demon yelped.
Everyone laughed louder.
For the first time in what felt like forever, the courtyard was filled not with grief, fear, or farewells-
but laughter.
And as Zhao Yuanzhou rubbed his injured foot dramatically while Yichen pretended he had done nothing wrong,
their eyes met once more.
Just for a second.
A tiny smile appeared on Yichen’s lips.
And Zhao Yuanzhou smiled back.
The secret of the stars remained safely between them.
❄️❄️❄️✨✨✨⚔️⚔️⚔️
The Demon Investigation Bureau was unusually quiet that night.
Only the soft sound of wind moving through the courtyard.
Inside their room, a lantern glowed faintly.
Zhao Yuanzhou was lying beside Zhuo Yichen, one arm lazily draped around his waist.
For once, the great demon looked peaceful.
Half asleep.
Half awake.
Comfortable.
Safe.
But Yichen wasn’t sleeping.
His eyes remained fixed on the ceiling.
Lost in thought.
The silence stretched.
Then Zhao Yuanzhou spoke without opening his eyes.
“You’ve been staring at that beam for half an hour.”
Yichen didn’t answer.
The demon finally opened one eye.
“Thinking about Bai Jiu?”
The room became quiet again.
Yichen lowered his gaze.
“…Yes.”
His voice was barely above a whisper.
The guilt had never left him.
Not even for a moment.
Bai Jiu had trusted him.
Followed him.
Called him brother.
Yet now he was trapped somewhere inside his own body while Li Lun walked the world wearing his face.
Yichen clenched the blanket.
“I should have noticed.”
Zhao Yuanzhou immediately frowned.
“Don’t.”
“I should have.”
“You couldn’t have known.”
“I was supposed to protect him.”
The words broke softly from his lips.
The same pain.
The same responsibility.
Always carried alone.
Zhao Yuanzhou slowly sat up.
Moonlight fell across his face.
For a moment he simply looked at Yichen.
Then he reached out.
His fingers gently untangled Yichen’s clenched hand from the blanket.
“You really are impossible.”
Yichen glanced at him.
The demon sighed.
“When he was scared, who did he run to?”
Yichen didn’t answer.
Because he already knew.
Zhao Yuanzhou poked his forehead lightly.
“You.”
The demon’s voice softened.
“You’ve already done everything you could.”
The room fell silent again.
Then Zhao Yuanzhou’s expression became serious.
“We’ll bring him back.”
Yichen looked up immediately.
The certainty in Zhao Yuanzhou’s eyes was unwavering.
“As Ying Long said.”
The demon leaned back against the bed.
“To separate Li Lun from Bai Jiu’s body, we’ll need Princess Longyu’s dragon scales.”
The name lingered between them.
Longyu.
The last clue Ying Long had left behind.
Yichen frowned slightly.
“Dragon scales that can repair all things…”
“And separate souls.”
Zhao Yuanzhou nodded.
“Exactly.”
The moonlight reflected in his eyes.
“For thousands of years, dragon scales have been said to mend what should be impossible to mend.”
“Broken swords.”
“Broken spirits.”
“Broken destinies.”
His voice grew quieter.
“And maybe…”
He looked toward Yichen.
“…a broken child who deserves another chance.”
Yichen’s chest tightened.
For a long moment neither spoke.
Then Zhao Yuanzhou suddenly leaned forward and rested his forehead against Yichen’s.
The movement startled him.
“What are you doing?”
“Thinking.”
“About what?”
The demon smiled.
“If we save Bai Jiu.”
“We repair the Yun Guang Sword.”
“We survive this disaster.”
Yichen immediately sensed trouble.
“…Then?”
“Then I vote we retire.”
Yichen blinked.
“What?”
“Buy a house.”
“We already have one.”
“A bigger house.”
Yichen stared.
Zhao Yuanzhou continued seriously.
“With a pond.”
“We already have a pond.”
“Two ponds.”
Yichen sighed.
The demon kept going.
“Then we adopt Bai Jiu.”
“…What?”
“Someone has to supervise him.”
Yichen rubbed his forehead.
“He’s not a duckling.”
“He acts like one.”
Despite himself, Yichen laughed softly.
The first genuine laugh all evening.
A small one.
But enough.
Zhao Yuanzhou smiled.
There it was.
The expression he had been waiting for.
Then he carefully pulled Yichen into his arms.
This time there was no resistance.
No embarrassment.
No complaints.
Only warmth.
Only comfort.
The demon pressed a kiss against Yichen’s forehead.
Gentle.
Lingering.
“We’ll save him.”
His voice was steady.
Certain.
“We’ll save Bai Jiu.”
“We’ll repair the sword.”
“We’ll find the dragon scales.”
“And after all this is over…”
He tightened his embrace slightly.
“I’m not letting you carry the world by yourself anymore.”
Yichen closed his eyes.
Listening to the steady heartbeat beneath his ear.
For the first time that day, the guilt eased.
Just a little.
Outside, the moon hung silently above the courtyard….and it seemed shy too.