Chapter 62
Neither Zhuo Yichen nor Zhao Yuanzhou noticed the faint shadow moving across the roof tiles outside their room.
The night was quiet.
Too quiet.
A pair of golden eyes watched through the darkness.
Ao Yin.
The shapeshifter crouched silently atop a distant pavilion, listening to every word that escaped the slightly open window.
Princess Longyu.
Dragon scales.
Separating Li Lun from Bai Jiu…Saving Bai Jiu.
Repairing the Yun Guang Sword.
Not a single detail escaped him.
When the room finally fell silent and the lantern dimmed, Ao Yin’s lips curved into a cold smile.
“So that’s your plan…”
His body dissolved into black mist.
Moments later-
deep within Tiandu-
a secret chamber flickered with candlelight.
Zhen Mei stood before a table covered in maps and intelligence reports.
A shadow emerged from the darkness.
Ao Yin dropped to one knee.
“I have news.”
“Speak.”
Ao Yin relayed every detail.
The mention of Princess Longyu immediately caught her attention.
For a brief moment, even she looked surprised.
“So they discovered that much…”
She turned toward the window.
Thinking…Calculating.
Then her expression darkened.
Without hesitation, she lit a talisman.
The paper burned blue.
A stream of spiritual energy shot into the night sky.
In an underground chamber hidden beneath layers of formations and seals.
Wen Zongyu slowly opened his eyes.
The burning talisman floated before him.
Its contents appearing in glowing letters.
His gaze scanned the message.
Then-
he smiled.
A smile that carried no warmth whatsoever.
“Princess Longyu…”
He repeated the name softly.
Nearby, countless scrolls lay open.
Ancient records.
Forbidden experiments.
The old mastermind rose from his seat.
For years he had planned every step.
Every betrayal.
Every death.
Every coincidence.
And now another piece had appeared on the board.
A dragon’s scale capable of restoring what was broken…
Powerful enough to restore the Yun Guang Sword.
Powerful enough to save Zhuo Yichen.
Wen Zongyu’s fingers slowly tightened.
“No.”
His voice echoed through the chamber.
“I cannot allow that.”
The pieces he had spent eight years arranging were finally nearing completion.
If Zhao Yuanzhou recovered completely…
If Zhuo Yichen survived…
If Bai Jiu returned…
Everything would unravel.
His gaze drifted toward a sealed container nearby.
Inside pulsed a faint crimson glow.
Like a living heart.
Like something waiting to awaken.
A dangerous smile spread across his face.
“Prepare the troops.”
Ao Yin lowered his head.
“Yes, Master.”
“And send scouts.”
Wen Zongyu’s eyes gleamed.
“I want Princess Longyu found before they reach her.”
The torches flickered violently…
Outside, thunder rolled across the distant sky.
As if the heavens themselves sensed disaster approaching.
Meanwhile-
back at the Demon Investigation Bureau-
Zhuo Yichen slept peacefully for the first time in many days.
One hand still loosely holding Zhao Yuanzhou’s sleeve.
The demon remained beside him.
Protective.
Quiet…
❄️❄️❄️✨✨✨⚔️⚔️⚔️
Several days had passed since their return from the Bing Yi Forbidden Grounds.
Outwardly, Zhuo Yichen appeared calm.
He attended meetings.
Studied ancient records.
Discussed strategy with Wen Xiao.
Practiced controlling the demonic power flowing through his body.
Everything seemed normal.
Yet inside-
he was a mess.
Because he was carrying a secret.
A very dangerous secret.
One he hadn’t told anyone.
Not even Zhao Yuanzhou.
Sometimes his hand would unconsciously drift toward his stomach…
Then he would immediately stop himself.
As if afraid even thinking about it would make it real.
He wasn’t sure.
And until he knew for certain-
he would say nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
Especially not to the overexcited demon who would probably announce it to the entire Great Wilderness.
So he kept quiet.
Very quiet.
Unfortunately, fate never allowed Zhuo Yichen peace for long…
The group arrived at the entrance of Princess Longyu’s cave.
Ancient dragon carvings covered the stone walls.
Mist drifted across the ground.
The air carried an overwhelming pressure.
Before entering, Zhao Yuanzhou casually reached for Yichen’s hand.
Yichen immediately smacked it away.
“We’re in public.”
“So?”
“So behave.”
The demon looked wronged.
“We’re married.”
“That’s not an excuse…we are here for an official business.”
“It absolutely is.”
Yichen glared.
Zhao Yuanzhou smiled.
“I like it when you glare.”
Yichen nearly walked faster.
Behind them-
Ying Lei witnessed everything.
The entire thing.
Every single second.
He covered his face.
“Oh, heavens.”
Neither listened.
Zhao Yuanzhou continued.
“You used to be colder…”
“I still am.”
“No.”
The demon pointed confidently.
“Now you’re cold with affection…”
Yichen stopped walking.
“What does that even mean?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then stop talking…or else….i am gonna stop talking to you for a week.”
“Fine…I’ll keep quiet…you only talk two or three words…i definitely want to hear them so…”
“3…2….1.”
“Fine..fine.”
The group entered the cave while Ying Lei continued questioning every decision that had led him here.
Deep within the cavern-
they finally met Princess Longyu.
The dragon princess sat upon a crystal throne.
Silver scales shimmered faintly beneath her robes….
She possessed an ethereal fragility, glowing with the smooth, flawless luster of a carved jade doll.
Ancient.
Elegant.
Mysterious.
Her gaze swept over the visitors.
Finally settling upon Zhuo Yichen.
Then Zhao Yuanzhou.
Then back again.
A knowing smile appeared.
“I see.”
Yichen immediately became nervous.
For some reason.
He wasn’t sure why.
Longyu tilted her head.
“You are the third group to come asking for my dragon scales.”
The group froze.
“Third?”
Wen Xiao frowned.
“Who came before us?”
The princess sighed softly.
“Li Lun.”
Nobody looked surprised.
“Of course it was him.”
Ying Lei muttered.
Longyu nodded.
“And another group.”
Her expression darkened slightly.
“People working for Wen Zongyu.”
The atmosphere immediately became serious.
Zhao Yuanzhou exchanged a glance with the others.
So they really were being followed.
Again.
Longyu rose from her throne.
The cave trembled slightly beneath her power.
“You seek dragon scales.”
“We do.”
Yichen stepped forward respectfully.
He explained everything.
The shattered Yun Guang Sword.
Bai Jiu’s possession.
Li Lun.
The demonic energy.
The coming disaster.
The princess listened quietly.
Without interruption.
When he finally finished, silence filled the cave.
Longyu studied him carefully.
Then she smiled.
A sad smile.
“Your reasons are noble…”
Hope flickered in everyone’s eyes.
Then she added-
“Unfortunately, dragon scales cannot simply be given away.”
The hope immediately died.
Ying Lei sighed.
“There it is.”
Longyu laughed softly.
“If dragon scales are taken by force…”
She lifted one silver scale from her wrist.
The scale glowed brilliantly.
“…their power disappears.”
The scale instantly dimmed.
Like an ordinary stone.
Everyone stared.
“The scales choose.”
She closed her hand.
Zhao Yuanzhou folded his arms.
“Which means…”
The princess nodded.
“There will be a trial….or else a gift in return….”
The princess laughed.
Longyu’s gaze shifted toward Zhuo Yichen.
For a brief moment-
her eyes lingered strangely.
Almost knowingly.
Then she smiled.
A very mysterious smile.
One that made Yichen suddenly uncomfortable.
Very uncomfortable.
❄️❄️❄️❄️✨✨✨✨
The cavern fell silent after Princess Longyu
Only the sound of flowing water remained.
So much pain caused by a single moment of jealousy.
Princess Longyu stood motionless.
Her eyes were calm, but beneath them lay wounds that had never healed.
“I owe your father a life.”
She looked at Wen Xiao.
“And I have regretted that day for centuries.”
For a brief moment, her voice cracked.
Then she hardened her heart again.
“But the dragon scales are not a gift…”
Her gaze shifted toward Zhao Yuanzhou.
“If you want them…”
“The price is your inner dan…”
The words echoed heavily through the cave.
Everyone froze.
Wen Xiao immediately shook her head.
“No.”
Pei Sijing frowned.
“That’s impossible.”
Ying Lei stepped forward.
“Without his inner dan, he’ll -“
Princess Longyu raised a hand.
“I know exactly what will happen.”
Silence.
Then-
unexpectedly-
Zhao Yuanzhou stepped forward.
Calmly.
As if discussing the weather.
“I agree.”
Everyone turned.
Yichen’s eyes widened.
Wen Xiao looked horrified.
Ying Lei nearly choked.
Pei Sijing looked ready to hit him.
“What?”
Yichen’s voice was dangerously quiet.
Zhao Yuanzhou didn’t look at him.
“If my inner dan can save Bai Jiu…”
“If it can repair the sword…”
“If it can save you..if I can save the world and the wilderness…I am very happy to sacrifice my core…”
The atmosphere instantly grew colder.
Yichen stared at him.
Stared.
And stared.
Then-
for perhaps the first time since becoming a demon-
Commander Zhuo completely lost his temper.
“Worth it?”
The words came out sharper than a blade.
Zhao Yuanzhou finally looked at him.
Yichen stepped forward.
His silver eyes blazing.
“Worth it?”
The cave shook slightly from the demonic energy leaking from his body.
Everyone wisely remained silent.
Even Princess Longyu looked surprised.
“Why?”
He pointed directly at Zhao Yuanzhou.
“Why are you always the one paying the price?”
The demon blinked.
Yichen continued.
“Every single time…”
His eyes were already turning red.
“Every time something happens-“
“You sacrifice.”
“You bleed.”
“You suffer.”
“You apologize.”
“You blame yourself.”
His voice cracked.
“And now you’re offering your inner core too?”
Zhao Yuanzhou opened his mouth.
Yichen didn’t let him speak.
“No.”
“No…there will be another way.”
The demon looked startled.
“You always act like your life matters less…it’s a freaking life….”
“And I’m tired of it.”
The cave became completely silent.
Even the water seemed to stop flowing.
Yichen looked directly into Zhao Yuanzhou’s eyes.
For a moment, all the grief of countless lifetimes surfaced.
Fang Hua Xing.
Wu Chen Tu.
Every loss.
Every goodbye.
Every death.
Every sacrifice.
“Do you know how selfish that is?”
The question stunned everyone.
Even Zhao Yuanzhou froze…
Yichen’s voice became softer.
More painful.
“You decide alone.”
“You decide what’s best.”
“And then you expect everyone else to accept it…”
Tears had begun gathering in his eyes.
But he didn’t look away.
Not once.
“It was different before…but now…I am your husband.”
The words echoed throughout the cave.
“I didn’t marry you so you could throw your life away…this is a choice…not an inevitable fate…”
Zhao Yuanzhou’s breathing became uneven.
Yichen took another step forward.
Close enough that only Zhao could hear the next words.
“We finally found each other…”
His voice broke.
“After all these lifetimes…”
“After all those deaths…”
“After all that suffering…”
The demon’s eyes immediately reddened.
“And now you want me to stand here and watch you sacrifice yourself again…?”
Yichen shook his head.
“No.”
His hand found Zhao Yuanzhou’s.
Holding it tightly.
Almost desperately.
“No more.”
Even Princess Longyu looked affected.
She was seeing two people terrified of losing each other.
“You are not the center of every sacrifice.”
“You are not responsible for every tragedy.”
The words struck Zhao Yuanzhou harder than any weapon.
“If we save Bai Jiu.”
“We save him together.”
“If we face death.”
“We face it together.”
The tears in Zhao Yuanzhou’s eyes finally fell.
Princess Longyu watched silently.
Watching something she had once lost.
A love that refused to be measured by sacrifice…
And for the first time-
she began questioning whether the price she demanded was truly the right one.