You Rejected the Love of a God!
The people of the Demon Realm were a remarkable lot. In less than the time it took to burn a single incense stick, the Gundam-style armor that Shu Fu had dismissed as “completely useless” found itself a buyer, thanks to the host’s impassioned, spit-flecked sales pitch.
The buyer was a tall, gaunt man, thin and lanky as a stalk of hemp. His face was so lean that it seemed to have no flesh on it at all, and his complexion was pale and gray, exuding a deathly air.
“See that? He looks like one of the Cunning Demon Lord’s trusted aides.”
Some demon cultivators whispered among themselves.
“I hear the Cunning Demon Lord is skilled in controlling corpses—the infamous ‘march of the yin soldiers.’ Looks like the rumors are true. Every last person around him has that same dead look.”
“Isn’t that the truth?”
Someone else lowered his voice and chimed in, “The Cunning Demon Lord is suspicious by nature. Apart from the corpses under his control, he never allows anyone near him. I’ve also heard that he refuses to submit to Zhao Jiuge and wants to replace him.”
The tall, thin man did not bother hiding his identity. Instead, he announced it openly.
“That’s right. I’m here on behalf of my lord to purchase some necessary supplies. Pay me no mind. Please, continue.”
“The Cunning Demon Lord? The Perennial Runner-Up?”
Shu Fu turned to Liu Ruyi and asked, “So, among the remaining six Demon Lords, apart from Zhao Jiuge and his subordinate Taotie, Cunning, Nangong, and Ningluo have all had a hand in this. He Xiuwen seems to be doing quite well for himself. Business is booming.”
“Of course.”
The corner of Liu Ruyi’s lips twitched into an incomplete, icy smile.
“He Xiuwen is a vulgar man. While the other Demon Lords are busy conquering cities and claiming territory, all these sneaky, underhanded, disreputable dealings are left to someone like him, who is perfectly happy to handle them. If anyone wants something, they need only come to the black market and look for him.”
“Zhao Jiuge is no different. He can’t stand seeing the dragons and phoenixes live freely, yet he considers himself a great tyrant and thinks torturing prisoners is beneath him. So he sent the descendants of the dragons and phoenixes to the black market, leaving them at the mercy of that bastard He Xiuwen.”
As he spoke, Liu Ruyi’s eyes narrowed slightly. The easygoing, carefree smile he usually wore split open for the first time, revealing the faint trace of hatred beneath.
“Killing with someone else’s knife—and such a filthy knife at that.”
At the sight of his expression, Shu Fu immediately realized that Liu Ruyi was an orphaned descendant of the Honghu clan.
Of the Five Phoenixes, the Phoenix clan had been all but wiped out, while the Honghu clan was likewise on the verge of extinction. Its direct bloodline had nearly been severed.
Fortunately, the Honghu clan did not reject mixed-blood offspring. Since Zhao Jiuge had not considered the collateral branches worth noticing, they had managed to survive. The only one who had ever been lost outside the clan, the orange cat Big Yellow, had endured countless hardships and even died and returned to life before Jiang Xuesheng finally found him and brought him home.
If not for Big Yellow, Shu Fu would never have met Jiang Xuesheng and Liu Ruyi. Looking back now, it all seemed like a lifetime ago.
But then again…
How had the “Celestial Cat,” born to the Honghu Princess and a cat demon, ended up with a damaged mind and wandering alone through the mountains as a kitten?
Shu Fu had once suspected that Big Yellow’s parents had been killed by demon cultivators, but she had never found any evidence. Besides, Big Yellow’s mind was not exactly reliable, and he remembered nothing at all about his early childhood. There were no clues to follow, and the matter had consequently become an unsolved mystery.
However, according to the medical cultivators of the Jiuhua Sect, Big Yellow’s soul had indeed been damaged by an external force. It was highly likely that the problem had originated in the womb.
It was not difficult to imagine what his parents must have gone through.
“…”
“Junior Sister, what are you thinking about?”
Seeing Shu Fu’s silence, Liu Ruyi assumed she was worried about the Demon Lords and gently reassured her, “There’s no need to worry. With the four of us here, even if all four of those devils came in person, we could each take one on and still escape unscathed.”
As he spoke, he lifted Shu Fu’s hair and braided it into a pair of spiral buns, turning her into a goofy little red panda in an attempt to ease his own loneliness and gloom.
“No, that isn’t what I’m worried about…”
Shu Fu was just about to explain when the Gundam was taken off the stage. Two demon cultivators then came forward, escorting a young woman with delicate features. They shoved her into the center of the arena and directed the lights onto her pale, crystalline face.
“…”
The girl slowly raised her head. Her skin was as white as jade, and her clear, lively eyes shimmered with light. They were a rare shade of emerald green.
“Everyone, this is today’s grand finale!”
The host suddenly raised his voice by several octaves, practically hitting dolphin range. He was truly a salesman of unparalleled talent. He Xiuwen had struck gold with this one.
“An inner disciple of the Xuanyu Palace, personally taught by Fairy Lingbo—the pureblooded East Sea Moon Jiao!”
“What?!”
Except for Jiang Xuesheng, whose expression remained unchanged, Shu Fu, Wu Yao, and Liu Ruyi all went pale in an instant.
The female cultivators of Xuanyu Palace mostly lived far out at sea, and its younger disciples rarely traveled through the Five Continents. They had always been well protected by Fairy Lingbo. How, then, had one of them fallen into the hands of demon cultivators?
Then again, just like the azure luan, the dragon clans of old had withdrawn to the East Sea precisely to protect their descendants from demon cultivators. With the natural barrier of the sea at their backs, they guarded one corner of the world and preserved its peace.
Among the descendants of the dragons and phoenixes, the Moon Jiao lineage, which had retreated to the East Sea, was second only to the azure luan in terms of safety and stability.
Meanwhile, Nan Gongming was questioning his attendant.
“I want all available information on the East Sea Moon Jiao within half a quarter of an hour. I need to determine whether it’s worth bidding on. You may begin now.”
The attendant: “…”
Ordinarily, as one of the mighty Demon Lords, Nan Gongming should have possessed a far wider range of knowledge than his subordinate. There was absolutely no reason for him to seek help from an underling.
But he was a domineering CEO.
When a CEO had questions, how could he possibly investigate them himself?
Even if he were searching the internet, his secretary would have to operate the computer for him, print out the webpages one by one, bind them neatly, and respectfully deliver them to his desk. Preferably, the papers would be accompanied by a glass of 1984 vintage wine for him to savor as he read.
Only then would he truly embody the style of a domineering CEO.
And as for the secretary? That poor tool had to drive him around, reserve entire venues, chase after women for him, make the Wang family go bankrupt whenever the weather turned cold, and bring down the Zhao family whenever it grew hot—an all-purpose lackey capable of anything and everything.
“Yes, my lord.”
The tool of an attendant wore a bitter expression as he raised a hand to wipe at his ever-receding hairline. Young as he was, he already possessed the air of someone ready to be buried.
“The East Sea Moon Jiao clan is as renowned as the Wushan Cloud Jiao clan. Both are descendants of the ancient dragon race. According to legend, after the righteous cultivators fought the Heavenly Demon three thousand years ago, very few dragons remained. Most of them retreated to the East Sea, where they intermarried with aquatic races such as the merfolk and the Kunpeng, giving birth to new descendants. The white jiao lineage, which inherited the dragon clan’s spiritual power, became known as the ‘East Sea Moon Jiao.’”
“Later, when one of the Moon Jiao clan’s patriarchs traveled through the Five Continents, he discovered how difficult life was for human women. He therefore rebuilt the Dragon Palace into the ‘Xuanyu Palace,’ taking in women from across the world and raising them alongside the descendants of the aquatic races. In this subordinate’s opinion, that is quite a beautiful story.”
Nan Gongming: “I didn’t ask for your opinion. Does what you think have anything to do with me? Continue.”
The attendant: “…”
—What an idiot of a boss. May I resign?
The answer was no.
The CEO had given an order, and a secretary could only obey:
“Yes, Demon Lord. In short, compared with the Wushan Cloud Jiao, which is born of a dragon and a snake demon and inherits the ‘dragon nature is lecherous,’ the East Sea Moon Jiao can be considered a true descendant of the dragon race. Its bloodline is pure and its foundation deep. It must not be underestimated.”
“Moon Jiaos are exceedingly rare. If we can buy her, whether as a medicinal ingredient or a cultivation cauldron, she will certainly be of great benefit to the Demon Lord.”
“Oh, come on.”
Shu Fu’s five senses were exceptionally sharp at the moment, so she heard every word. As she listened, she couldn’t help thinking, “Honestly, if the Lich King heard this, he’d be devastated. At first glance, it sounds as though the Moon Jiao was born to the first wife, while the Cloud Jiao was born to the mistress…”
[The truth is more or less the same.]
Wu Yao’s voice turned grim as he explained, [Among the dragons who withdrew to the East Sea, there was one Azure Dragon who was rebellious by nature. Unwilling to accept the marriage arranged by his elders, he ran away from home. In the Wushan region, this Azure Dragon fell in love with a snake demon, and day and night they… ahem! In any case, that was how the Cloud Jiao bloodline came into being.]
[However, although the Wushan Cloud Jiao are descendants of dragons, they also inherited the snake demon bloodline. They are highly poisonous, and by nature… ahem! They need to rely on “dual cultivation” to attain the Dao. In the eyes of the noble, upright, and immaculate Moon Jiao bloodline, it is only natural that they should be looked down upon.]
Jiang Xuesheng cut in, “It’s all right. I think highly of you. Isn’t the approval of your ancestor worth more than theirs?”
Wu Yao: “…Jiang Tan, is your way of ‘thinking highly of me’ to make me run around and risk my life for you until I bleed my last drop?”
Jiang Xuesheng: “Of course. What else would it be? Though you aren’t my descendant, if you count generation by generation, you can barely be considered my ‘great-grandnephew’ or something. A gentleman respects the elderly and cherishes the young. I’m very old, and you’re not young. Is there anything wrong with ordering you around?”
Wu Yao: “Get lost!!!”
Shu Fu: “…”
All it took to ruin a sorrowful, bitter monologue was one Jiang Xuesheng.
Speaking of which, ever since getting into a relationship, Jiang Xuesheng had been steadily letting himself go. His outlook improved by the day, and he no longer minded people saying he was old.
—I’m very old. So what? My girlfriend is young!
—When you’re as old as I am, will you be able to find such a youthful and adorable girlfriend? Heh heh!
That was more or less his current state of mind.
But right now, compared with their comedic routine, the safety of the Moon Jiao girl was more important.
[Sir, is she really an East Sea Moon Jiao?] Shu Fu asked.
[Indeed. I can sense her aura, and it is identical to that of the Moon Jiaos I know. Most importantly, I recognize her face.]
Jiang Xuesheng answered briefly, [Lingbo has remained single to this day and has no children. She only has two nieces, and this girl is one of them.]
[I’ve heard Lingbo mention that her first disciple is a human woman who reached the Nascent Soul stage several years ago. She is both virtuous and capable, fully qualified to shoulder great responsibilities. Lingbo intends to pass the position of sect master to her disciple, so that the Profound Jade Palace will no longer be controlled by the Moon Jiao clan.]
[Perhaps this Moon Jiao girl heard the news and became so depressed that she ran away from home in a fit of anger…]
Shu Fu: “…”
After all that, she was another Ji Xiaobei?!
Why were there so many kids running away from home lately?!
At the same time, upon hearing the title “descendant of the dragon race,” the demonic cultivators began bidding against one another like hyenas that had caught the scent of meat. The envoys of Nan Gongming and the Cunning Demon Lord were no exception.
Shu Fu would have loved to join in. Ideally, she could solve the problem by throwing money around and buy the girl back without bloodshed.
But, first, she was worried that exposing her identity would result in the girl becoming a hostage instead of being rescued. And second…
—These Demon Lords had way too much damn money!
No wonder ill-gotten gains were so easy to make!
Those murderous bank robbers!
“Jiang Tan, aren’t you supposed to be very capable?”
As the bids climbed higher and higher and the demonic cultivators across the room grew feverish and salivated with greed, Wu Yao gradually found it harder to conceal his anxiety. “She may not get along with us, but she’s still one of my kind—and your descendant. Think of something and get her out of here.”
“I thought you didn’t like the East Sea Moon Jiaos.”
Jiang Xuesheng teased him, then sent a telepathic message to Liu Ruyi:
[Ruyi, why don’t you sacrifice yourself a little and make a deal with Nan Gongming? Ask him to give you the Moon Jiao girl.]
Liu Ruyi refused so vehemently that she practically wanted to spit in his face:
[That would be far too great a sacrifice! Sir, “if you want something done, do it yourself”—that’s a principle you taught us. Can’t you sacrifice yourself for once, put on women’s clothes, and go in there yourself?]
…
That was what they said, but when the sour-faced attendant approached once again, Liu Ruyi still steeled himself and prepared to “accept the offer.”
If he could rescue the Moon Jiao girl that way, naturally it would be ideal.
However, what the attendant said was, “This woman… No, this young lady. After the auction ends, my master would like to invite you to his residence for a visit. As the saying goes, ‘A graceful lady is a gentleman’s desire.’ He took a liking to you at first sight and believes the two of you must be fated to meet.”
Liu Ruyi: “?????”
—Wait, what? Things had moved way too quickly!!!
Nan Gongming wasn’t their target. There was no point in getting close to him; all it would accomplish was catching his foolishness and tackiness.
What was more, he was as straight as they came. He probably wished he could sprint to Mount Kongtong that very night and shout from the summit, “Get lost! I’m not into men!”
—In that case, there was only one option: reject him cleanly and decisively!
When it came to rejecting men, Liu Ruyi had always been very experienced.
He smiled charmingly, put on an apologetic expression, and immediately deployed his most devastating move:
“I’m sorry. Please tell your master that I have a taste for women and have only ever been attracted to them. I’m afraid I can’t accept an invitation from a man.”
Admitting that he was disguised as a man might arouse suspicion, so he had simply declared himself a lesbian. That should put an end to the matter, right?
Unless Nan Gongming was willing to undergo a sex change for love…
“How is that possible?”
However, Nan Gongming’s train of thought was more rigorous than Liu Ruyi had anticipated. Before long, he sent the attendant over with another message:
“Men and women are made for each other, and yin and yang must be balanced. That is a universal truth recognized throughout the ages. How could there be such a thing as a man falling in love with a man or a woman falling in love with a woman? Woman, think of a better excuse.”
Liu Ruyi: “…”
Great. He was one of those straight men who thought, “I am the universe.”
Because I’m straight, everyone in the universe must be straight too—in short, a universal straight man.
Liu Ruyi said tactfully, “Ask your master this: If I use a different explanation, such as ‘I’m not interested in his type,’ will he give up?”
The attendant nodded earnestly, then hurried back to relay the message.
A minute later, he came hurrying back again.
“My master says that if you think you can reject him with a single sentence, you are gravely mistaken. You started this fire, and only you can put it out.”
“Miss, do you know whose love you have rejected?”
…Where did he get that “love” from?!!!
Wasn’t this just lust at first sight?!!!
[Senior Brother, don’t panic. Leave this to me. I guarantee I’ll make him back down.]
Seeing Liu Ruyi on the verge of breaking down, Shu Fu immediately raised a hand to stop them and stepped forward without hesitation.
“Show some respect. What do you mean, ‘miss’? She already belongs to someone. If you have any manners, you should address her as ‘Madam.’”
Liu Ruyi: 【…Junior Sister?】
The attendant froze for a moment, then turned to her suspiciously.
“And who are you?”
“Me?”
Shu Fu answered without batting an eye, her voice ringing out clearly.
“I am this lady’s daughter, of course. She is my mother. You’re trying to abduct my mother and tear my family apart, and you won’t even let her children speak up? What kind of logic is that?”
Liu Ruyi: 【Junior Sister???】
Shu Fu ignored her completely. She raised a hand and pointed, dragging Jiang Xuesheng and Wu Yao into the mess as well.
“And them—they’re both my elder brothers. You drove our brothers away just now, forcing our family to be separated. That was exceedingly rude!”
The attendant: “Mo—But those two men over there look even older than your mother!”
“Hmph. How narrow-minded.”
Shu Fu let out a sharp, derisive laugh and planted both hands on her hips. Every word came straight from the heart, firm and forceful:
“Don’t you know that, besides one’s birth mother, there is also a ‘stepmother’? We hold our stepmother in the highest esteem and regard her as our own mother. No one is allowed to take her away from us!”
Liu Ruyi: 【Junior Sister!!!!!】
…
“…I see. She is already married, and she gets along harmoniously with her stepchildren, as close as a family. In that case, as a dignified Demon Lord, I indeed should not steal another man’s beloved and tear a family apart.”
Just as Shu Fu had expected, even the classic domineering CEO was no match for the sensational new twenty-first-century genre of “stepmother fiction.” Faced with it, he could only concede defeat and admit that he was slightly outclassed.
However, Nan Gongming’s thoughts soon took another turn, and his gaze sharpened once more.
“But this stepdaughter of hers not only dresses herself up as an iron-eating beast just like her stepmother, she also dares to argue her case with such force. She is bold, resolute, and quite extraordinary. Of the two hundred and forty-seven women before her, not one had ever dared to reject me so vehemently…”
“Very well. Woman, you have successfully attracted my attention.”
