Time passed so quickly that it seemed like a silently lit fuse, burning from end to end before anyone realized there was fire.
During those days that slipped away like fine sand between the fingers, Ren Zu maintained a meticulous routine. Every morning, he attended to the crowds seeking his medical skills at the Yun family residence. With each successful treatment, he conquered not only gratitude but also the respect of a large part of the profound practitioners in the Illusory Demon Realm; in a short time, he had gained favors from all the Guardian Families and even from a good portion of the famous and renowned profound practitioners. Many of them, with their own duties, territories, sects, and responsibilities.
But that was not all. In the afternoons, Ren Zu used to walk through the Demon Imperial City, offering treatment to the sick without asking for absolutely anything in return. He descended into the deepest alleys, touched wounds that others dared not even look at, and cared for thousands of common people with the same seriousness as he would treat an emperor.
Thus, without needing to announce his deeds or raise his voice, a belief began to take shape among the inhabitants. For many, Ren Zu was no longer just the number one doctor in the Illusory Demon Realm; he was a "Saint" reborn from ancient legends. And knowing that this same man would be the future husband of their ruler, the Little Demon Empress, left the people deeply moved. To them, it was as if destiny had united a cruel Empress and a living saint to protect the entire realm, two sides of the same coin that could govern with an iron fist and benevolence.
But Ren Zu not only consolidated this "good reputation" and advanced his plans. He also dedicated a large part of his time to the libraries, whether that of the Yun Family or the Illusory Demon Royal Family itself. There, he delved into countless subjects that broadened his worldview and helped him mature in aspects he previously lacked.
In addition, he maintained the habit of cultivating for at least an hour every day and still reserved part of his time to be by his future wife's side.
And so, another day arrived.
The morning in the Illusory Demon Realm dawned slowly, yet majestically, as if the sky itself hesitated before revealing its light.
The horizon shimmered with a soft glow, a pale gold that spread through the bluish mist that always rested over the Imperial City. The light filtered between the ancestral towers, touching jade rooftops, dissipating the shadows clinging to the alleys, and awakening the spirit gardens with a moist dew shine.
The air was fresh, almost cold, carrying the perfume of spiritual flowers that only bloomed at dawn, translucent petals, delicate like fine glass, releasing a light aroma that mingled with the earthy smell of the ancient palace stones.
And, amid all this powerful serenity, stood the Yun Clan Pavilion, where Ren Zu usually stayed every morning.
"Young Patriarch, this is the Nine Thousand Year Pure Yang Ginseng that General Chu sent to thank you for curing his right eye."
"Oh, thank you for bringing it."
"Young Patriarch, these one hundred and fifty kilograms of Purple Yang Jade were sent by the Duke Zi Palace to thank you for curing the injury to the profound veins of their third young master."
"Oh, thank you for bringing it."
"Young Patriarch, this is a 'Nine Evil Stars Protection Pearl' sent by the Duke Xuan Palace. There are only three of these in the entire Illusory Demon Realm....."
"Oh, thank you for bringing it..."
"Uh..... wouldn't it be better to store it in the Medicinal Pavilion, Young Patriarch?"
"... I will need all these items; I've already donated a part to the family. Don't worry..."
"....Yes, yes."
"Young Patriarch, the Young Patriarch of the Su Family, Su Zhizhan, wishes to see you."
"Oh, give it to me..... hm? Su Zhizhan? Bring him here." Ren Zu yawned, finally sitting properly for the first time in a long while.
In a short time, Su Zhizhan entered, but he did not walk alone. A luxuriously dressed girl was by his side. She seemed to be sixteen or seventeen, with skin white as jade and ruby lips, an extremely charming girl. Her delicate head was tilted, her steps graceful, and both her hands were nervously holding the belt at her waist. From entering until reaching Ren Zu, she had only secretly glanced at Ren Zu once and did not dare to lift her head to look again.
Ren Zu was seated with the tranquil posture of someone accustomed to carrying worlds on his shoulders without ever showing effort. The beams of morning light passed through the thin curtain of the pavilion and rested on him as if summoned by the young man's own will.
Those golden lines descended through his black hair like liquid cascades, illuminating an impeccable outline that seemed sculpted with impossible precision. His features were so harmonious that they seemed to defy nature itself, the smooth line of the nose, the cold and elegant arch of the eyebrows, the deep and unfathomable shine of the eyes that, even half-closed from the boredom of that dawn, carried a quietness that few living beings could sustain.
It was a beauty that did not fit into simple metaphors.
It was a beauty that could not be described in mere words.
He was simply a figure that destroyed previous notions of aesthetics and rebuilt everything around him, forcing anyone who saw him to understand, in that moment, that there was something beyond human perfection.
Although she had only secretly glanced at him, the girl took a deep breath, an almost inaudible sound, and her knees weakened for an instant. It was the kind of reaction she would never have allowed anyone to witness, but before Ren Zu, she lost the control she had preserved her entire life.
Her heart, previously steady and shy, beat so hard that it shook her chest as if trying to escape. The skin white as jade blushed softly, as if the flush had been brushed there by the light touch of a celestial artist.
In her eyes, large, delicate, and slightly trembling, a light emerged that combined astonishment, enchantment, and something even more dangerous: surrender.
Because she realized, just like so many other women... and so many men... that resisting Ren Zu's appearance was as useless as trying to order the sun not to rise.
It was a feeling that bypassed logical reasoning, that ignored status, power, lineage, pride, or modesty. It was a silent truth that hung over the Illusory Demon Realm:
Whoever saw him up close would inevitably fall.
Most people talked about it, and only now did she understand that fact.
"Nephew Yun." Upon seeing Ren Zu, Su Zhizhan quickly walked a few steps forward with a voice full of gratitude. "You did such a great kindness for my Su Family, and yet, due to some trivial delays, I came to thank you only today; this really is my fault, and I hope Nephew Yun can forgive us."
"What are you saying, Patriarch Su?" Ren Zu stood up to greet him and smiled. "It was nothing much, so you shouldn't worry too much about it. How has Senior Su been these days?"
Su Zhizhan smiled and replied.
"Recently, grandfather has changed, completely different from his old lifeless behavior. He is in great spirits these days; every day is like he has been reborn. Nephew Yun's medicine is even more miraculous than we anticipated. In these short seven days, seventy to eighty percent of the injuries to the profound entrances of the profound veins have already healed. After a few more days, he will definitely recover fully. In these last days, grandfather has been worried about what kind of gift he should give you as thanks."
"There is no need for a gift; being able to help Senior Su recover is my honor.... Patriarch, you still haven't introduced... who is this?" Ren Zu's gaze traced the girl beside Su Zhizhan. He had a slight impression of this girl and felt she was a member of the Su Family. From what he remembered when he was at the Su Family residence, he had sensed her aura from some corner.... As a celebrity of the Demon Imperial City, there were many people looking at him from every corner of the Su Family, and it seemed she was one of them? Moreover, this was all too familiar....?
Seeing that Ren Zu took the initiative to mention her, that girl lowered her head even more.
Su Zhizhan replied hastily. "This is my younger sister, Su Zhixi; she is seventeen years old. Zhixi, why haven't you greeted Young Patriarch Yun yet?"
The girl stepped forward and bowed slightly, "Little Sister greets Big Brother Yun."
After saying that, her delicate head quickly lowered again as a red stain silently blushed from her jade face to the tips of her ears.
"So, it's Little Sister Zhixi.... I didn't expect Patriarch Su, who has the aura of a fierce tiger, to have such a reserved little sister.... Come, sit down." Ren Zu said with a smile. Then he thought to himself, Hm? Su Zhizhan actually has a sister? It seems as if they aren't even direct siblings... but why did he bring his sister here?
"No, thank you." Su Zhizhan waved a hand and then became embarrassed: "Nephew Yun, actually, this time I came because of my little sister. Uh..."
Su Zhizhan stopped speaking. Then, a concentrated profound sound transmission sounded beside Ren Zu's ears.
"Uh.... when Nephew Yun was treating my grandfather that day, my sister was actually in the next room..... When Nephew left, my little sister has been distracted and without appetite... Grandfather said she has a heart disease that only Nephew Yun can cure. That's why I had to bring my little sister to Nephew Yun no matter what, and he even said that once I bring her.... I must leave immediately..."
Ren Zu maintained a neutral expression, but he was not surprised by this. In fact, he kind of expected something like this to happen.
"Ahem." Su Zhizhan coughed lightly once, then said with cupped hands, "My little sister is sick, but with Nephew Yun's medical skills that transcend the heavens, this shouldn't be a problem.... Oh, my father just sent me a sound transmission saying that something big happened in our family. He wants me to return immediately after bringing my sister here. So, I'll leave everything to Nephew Yun! Once she has fully recovered, I will definitely treat Nephew Yun to some good wi..... I will.....I will leave now."
Before he had finished his sentence, Su Zhizhan had already turned and left, disappearing immediately.... without leaving even a chance for Ren Zu to speak.
He sighed mentally.
He could perfectly guess Old Su's thoughts.
The elder was definitely not someone without "integrity"; in fact, he was extremely perceptive. After investigating the young man who would become the future ruler of the Illusory Demon Realm, Old Su concluded that Ren Zu's achievements were perhaps completely unimaginable. And that without even thinking about the future; even now, as a Divine Profound Realm cultivator alongside the Little Demon Empress, he was already incomparable, someone destined to reach heights far beyond this level.
To save the Little Demon Empress, Ren Zu did not hesitate to risk his own life by entering the Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley. That alone already proved he was not a bad person. On the contrary: he was someone who valued relationships and justice. But that had been months ago. What really mattered was that, in recent days, his constant benevolence revealed even more of his true nature.
He was someone genuinely kind and extraordinarily powerful, yet he also carried a ruthless side. Old Su's own son had commented that Ren Zu had executed several traitor Monarchs without even blinking, like chopping vegetables. This combination of unshakeable kindness and decisive cruelty was what made his figure even more fearsome... and, paradoxically, even more worthy of respect.
He simply was the most perfect grandson-in-law candidate in the world!
Among families of similar status, all those with daughters, as long as they had the minimum sense, would inevitably think of him as the number one candidate for son-in-law. However, the Demon Imperial City was still unstable after the recent chaos, so no one seemed willing to propose marriage to the Yun Family... or perhaps they simply did not dare. After all, there was also the fact that he was the future husband of the Little Demon Empress.
As for becoming his wife... better to forget it.
But a concubine?
That, at least, was still possible.
Thus, Old Su promptly decided to send someone personally to "deliver the goods." Su Zhixi, the princess of the Su Family, was, in his eyes, a suitable match for Ren Zu. Their ages matched perfectly, her temperament was the kind that aroused affection in men, and moreover, she was a stunning beauty. Old Su did not believe that Ren Zu would refuse such a "gift."
The Little Demon Empress was, of course, another story. But he trusted both Ren Zu's kindness and his ruler's dignity. He believed that Ren Zu would not allow anything to happen to Su Zhixi, and also that the Little Demon Empress would not be cruel enough to eliminate a young woman who, at most, could become a concubine of her future husband.
Upon learning of Old Su's plans, Ren Zu showed not the slightest emotional fluctuation. He had no interest in Su Zhixi; no matter how beautiful she was, she did not attract him. He already had by his side the Little Demon Empress, the number one beauty of the entire Illusory Demon Realm, and that was enough.
The problem was not desire, but how to handle this situation... after all, rejecting such a direct gesture from a great family was never something simple. How would he resolve this....?
While Ren Zu thought about this, Su Zhixi stood silently in place, and her shame did not diminish for quite a long time. Her delicate head hung low, not daring to look at Ren Zu again.... She was nervous and blushed embarrassedly, but it did not seem that she rejected Su Hongbo's extremely absurd arrangement.
The two remained silent, and the atmosphere became extremely strange. In these types of situations, it was obviously improper to make the girl speak first. Ren Zu took a few steps forward... when he approached her... he could practically hear the nervous beats of her heart.
"Where....in your body do you feel uncomfortable?"
"I....." Su Zhixi nervously tightened the belt of her dress.
Seeing that the girl did not know how to respond, Ren Zu smiled as he extended his hand. "Give me your hand; let me check your pulse. Seventy to eighty percent of someone's condition can be measured just by checking the pulse."
Seeing that Ren Zu stretched out a hand, Su Zhixi opened her mouth and then slowly extended her pure white little hand.... She had only extended it halfway before Ren Zu grasped it.
"Ah...." Su Zhixi cried out lightly, subconsciously retracting her little hand. However, it was firmly held by Ren Zu, making the red color on her face spread straight to her snowy neck as she lowered her head so much that it reached her chest. This was the first time her jade hands had been held by a man, and the flaming temperature of a man, as well as the sensation of Ren Zu's hands, almost made her heart leap out of her chest.
Su Zhixi's hands were trembling. So trembling that, for an instant, Ren Zu imagined her pulse might disappear from how fast it was fluttering.
To ease that suffocating tension and because he knew that young women of that age felt easily intimidated, he took a simple but effective action: he slightly loosened the pressure of his fingers around her wrist and averted his gaze to a neutral point on the table beside them.
It was a small gesture, almost imperceptible, but it clearly said that he would not invade her space more than necessary.
Ren Zu maintained a calm and professional tone.
"Your pulse is accelerated... but there is nothing wrong with your body."
The words were tranquil, almost subtle, but for Su Zhixi, they fell like a warm relief, a breath of peace crossing the chaos her heart insisted on provoking.
Still, she could not prevent her hand from trembling within Ren Zu's.
He noticed.
And, perhaps to relieve the tension... or maybe just because that disoriented expression was so obviously adorable... he raised one corner of his lips.
"Actually..." He murmured, with a light and unlikely gleam in his eyes: "I think I've discovered the problem."
Su Zhixi swallowed hard, her heart beating even faster.
"Disc... discovered?"
"Yes." Ren Zu leaned in a little, like someone about to reveal an inconvenient secret. "You are before a terrible man."
"....." Su Zhixi's beautiful eyes trembled slightly. She opened her lips and looked palely at the very close Ren Zu. Then, suddenly, a 'pfff' sound was heard right before she started laughing.
The girl's smile was bright and beautiful, warming to the heart. If it were any other man, he would have lost his mind, but Ren Zu was not just anyone. After a short silence, he said weakly, "I just said I'm a bad man; aren't you afraid? You're even laughing...."
Su Zhixi used her hand to cover her lips, and her face was pink as she said lightly. "A really bad guy wouldn't say he's bad....."
Ren Zu opened his mouth, then said helplessly, "No one listens when a bad guy tells the truth these days?!"
'Hehe....." Su Zhixi laughed lightly. Ren Zu's incomparably 'frank' words did not achieve the expected result, but it greatly diminished her nervousness. "If you are a bad guy, then there wouldn't even be a bad guy in the Demon Imperial City."
"Uh, why do you think that? Do I look that much like a good person?" Ren Zu asked while pointing to himself, releasing the girl's wrist.
Su Zhixi blinked slowly, as if her mind was still trying to comprehend Ren Zu's question. Her lips parted again, but no words came out. It was as if every thought that arose simply dissolved upon encountering his face.
Ren Zu raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the sudden silence.
"...So do I look that much like a good person?" he repeated, this time with a slight touch of irony, as if he were really considering the possibility that this was an insult.
Su Zhixi finally found her voice, even if trembling.
"I... I don't... think that's it..." she murmured, averting her gaze as her ears turned red again.
"It's just that... it's very hard to believe that someone... someone with this appearance..." She swallowed hard. "...could be a 'bad guy'."
Ren Zu tilted his head, crossing his arms in a gesture too casual for someone being accused or absolved of evil.
"So you're saying that beautiful people can't be bad?" he teased, with a playful gleam in his eyes.
Su Zhixi almost choked on her own breath.
"I-I didn't mean that!" She waved her hands, terrified at the idea of saying some absurd offense. "I just-! Just think that your gaze is... is too kind for a villain..."
Ren Zu approached her face just enough for Su Zhixi to enter silent panic, but not so much as to invade her space. Just enough to see the reaction.
"Really?" He asked softly. "Which part of my gaze seems kind?"
Su Zhixi became motionless.
Completely motionless.
Like a statue just caught by the sun.
Her heart beat so hard that Ren Zu could hear her pulse even from afar.
She tried to speak, she really tried, but all that came out was:
"Eh..."
And then she lowered her head so quickly that she almost hit her chin on her chest, covering half her face with her hands, as if that were enough to protect her from the embarrassment.
Ren Zu sighed...
"See?" He said casually: "That's why I say I'm dangerous. You can barely complete a sentence near me. This is definitely not healthy."
"G-Grand-!" Su Zhixi choked on her own words, her hands still covering her face. "Big Brother Yun is... is making fun of me..."
"Just a little," admitted Ren Zu, with the naturalness of someone who saw absolutely no problem in it. "But it's for your own health. If you keep trembling like this, I'll end up thinking you're really sick."
She bit her lip, trying to prevent another smile.
"See? It worked!" Seeing her smile, Ren Zu crossed his arms again and commented: "Now you seem less about to faint."
"I would never faint..." she murmured, still without the courage to lift her face.
"Are you sure? Your pulse told another story."
"G-Grand- Yun!"
And Su Zhixi felt her heart melt in the second silent explosion of that morning. For an instant, she completely forgot about her grandfather's absurd plan, the initial shame, the distance between their positions... and even the fact that this man was destined for another woman.
Ren Zu, realizing that the tension had diminished enough to reestablish the conversation, returned to speaking in a calmer tone.
Su Zhixi and Ren Zu spent an entire morning together. It was only until the afternoon had arrived that Su Zhixi began to leave.... Throughout the afternoon, everyone in the Yun Family had the mutual understanding not to disturb them, which was the reason all who went to visit Ren Zu were turned away in the morning.
Although he got rid of work, he had to deal with a "jealous wife" who heard about this...
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