Chapter 1861: My Sister's Husband

In front of the Honglian Yehai, a single figure stood like a stone statue carved by time, his hair now streaked with white, swaying in the wind. His ancient silhouette was etched with endless weariness and sorrow.

That was Moyuan, the formidable Swallowing Heaven Demon Venerable who once shook the heavens and myriad realms. His wife was the legendary Honglian Empress, whose fame echoed through the ages.

Ye Chen descended, setting aside the awkward thoughts from the ancient ruins, and slowly approached Moyuan. His heart filled with a deep sense of melancholy.

The love story of Swallowing Heaven Demon Venerable and Honglian Empress had long become a celebrated tale of the world, an ancient legend.

They were so much like Dihuang and Donghua Empress.

One fought alone against the Five Heavenly Demons for her; the other burned the eight wastelands and myriad gods for him. After countless eons, the Honglian Empress was gone; after countless eons, the Donghua Empress was gone too.

On the far side of the starry river, at the end of the Yellow Springs, no trace of the emperors remained—only memories that brought tears.

"Junior Ye Chen pays his respects to the Demon Venerable."

Ye Chen stepped forward, cupping his hands and bowing deeply, his expression full of respect.

In a way, he and Moyuan shared a karmic connection.

That connection had been planted in his previous life at Hengyue Sect, where a small demon cauldron had been passed down from Da Chu to Xuanhuang.

His essence of Swallowing Heaven came from that demon cauldron—it was a gift from the cauldron, and thus from Moyuan.

Moyuan turned around, gazing at Ye Chen and then at Ji Ningshuang.

In the eyes of this elder, there was weariness, envy, reminiscence, and a hint of daze.

Looking at Ye Chen and Ji Ningshuang now was like seeing himself and Honglian Empress in their youth.

The Honghuang era had faded into the distant past, with countless eons gone by. His Honglian had become nothing but dust in history.

"May you grow old together and share a lifetime of happiness."

Moyuan smiled warmly and gently waved his hand, using his own origin essence to form a lovers' knot—an ancient secret technique.

He was grateful to Ye Chen, grateful for Ye Chen's heavenly tribulation.

Without that punishment from the sixteen emperors, he might never have seen Honglian Empress again, even if it was only her Dao manifestation.

A breeze blew by, and Moyuan turned away, stepping into the depths of the Honglian Yehai. His back was desolate and slightly hunched, his strands of white hair dusted with the grime of years.

He seemed ready to enter eternal slumber, guarding the empress's tears and the memories of their ancient love.

Ye Chen and Ji Ningshuang stood in silence for a long time, unmoving, their gaze fixed on Moyuan's retreating figure. Their hearts grew even more sorrowful.

What was truly frightening was not living, but living in isolation until the end. What was truly frightening was not dying, but missing out for too long.

With a sigh, Ye Chen gently turned away.

The two figures walked away from the Honglian Yehai, growing farther and farther.

Three days later, at the foot of Yaochi Holy Land's mountain, they reappeared.

The Yaochi Immortal Mountain shimmered with radiant colors, as dreamlike and illusory as ever, bathed in glowing mists and surrounded by clouds and rainbows. It was like a paradise on earth, untouched by worldly dust.

"Mommy, where is this?"

Xiao Yefan, in Ji Ningshuang's arms, lifted his little head and curiously eyed the immortal mountain.

"It's Mommy's home."

Ji Ningshuang smiled tenderly, her eyes filled with nostalgia. She hadn't returned in over a hundred years.

"Won't the elders of your family beat me up?"

Ye Chen coughed awkwardly, feeling a bit uneasy. The goddesses of Yaochi were never supposed to marry, remaining pure until death. Ji Ningshuang had broken that tradition, and he had unwittingly played a part in it.

"They won't."

Ji Ningshuang chuckled, amused.

"Goddess."

By then, a group of female elders had come out to greet them, overjoyed. Their goddess had been away for so long—over a hundred years in total.

"I greet the elders."

Ji Ningshuang bowed in respect.

"Hello, grandmas."

Xiao Yefan was well-behaved, his voice childish and adorable, feeling especially close to the female elders.

"Good, good."

The word "grandmas" made the elders beam with delight. They couldn't wait to take Xiao Yefan into their arms. After all, they were women, and no matter their age, their maternal instincts overflowed.

They doted on both Ji Ningshuang and Xiao Yefan.

But when it came to Ye Chen, the elders' expressions darkened.

They still remembered how Ye Chen and Qi Wang had shouted outside Yaochi Mountain back in the day, making the Yaochi Holy Body famous everywhere.

And now, he had outdone himself by whisking away their goddess and bringing back a child. How on earth had he managed that?

"It's all a coincidence, a misunderstanding."

Ye Chen said with an awkward laugh.

The elders didn't lose their temper or ignore him outright. Instead, they carried Xiao Yefan and led Ji Ningshuang into the gates of Yaochi.

As for Ye Chen, he was completely overlooked—no one even invited him.

But Ye Chen was thick-skinned. He shamelessly followed along. After all, he was the Holy Lord of Heaven Court and the emperor of Da Chu. They had to give him some face.

Otherwise, he might just call in his people from home and have them stir up trouble every day, wooing away their fairies.

If the elders knew what he was thinking, they might pin him down and beat him on the spot.

The Yaochi Immortal Mountain was like a dream, peaceful and serene.

Along the way, they saw fairies everywhere, each in white robes and ethereal as dust. They were all stunningly beautiful—some sat on clouds in meditation, others picked spiritual fruits, gathered flowers, or danced gracefully, painting a picturesque scene.

Ye Chen and Ji Ningshuang's arrival drew the attention of all the fairies. They gathered in groups of three or five, bowing to Ji Ningshuang and showing great affection for the little one.

"So much yin energy here."

Ye Chen muttered to himself, stroking his chin as he surveyed the scene—fairies everywhere, not a single man in sight.

He couldn't understand why the Yaochi Empress had set such a rule, forbidding marriage and leaving lovers apart, only to gaze at the moon alone in the dead of night.

Take Yaochi Immortal Mother and Jiu Jianxian, for example.

They clearly had feelings for each other, yet they were bound by sect rules.

It was a pity for Jiu Jianxian, waiting year after year, his hair turning white and his years slipping away, missing out on the best of life and leaving too many regrets.

Still, Yaochi was better off than the Buddhist sects.

Though both had restrictions, there was a fundamental difference—one forbade marriage, the other severed all seven emotions and six desires entirely.

In this regard, Yaochi was more humane. Even if someone broke the rules, they were merely expelled from the sect, showing some compassion.

"Balance of yin and yang is best."

Ye Chen pondered. "When I get back, I'll slip Jiu Jianxian some special products from Da Chu."

He thought this idea was quite reliable.

Nothing a pack of Hehuan Powder couldn't fix. If one pack wasn't enough, try two; if two weren't enough, try a basketful.

Da Chu wasn't just home to a Dan Venerable—it had him, the Dan Saint. Refining a Hehuan Powder that even a Quasi-Emperor couldn't resist was entirely possible.

Jiu Jianxian ought to thank them. If he didn't use it soon, he'd rust away. Yaochi Immortal Mother would understand.

"In this world, who could be more considerate than me?"

Ye Chen chuckled to himself, his head buried as he laughed heartily, his expression rather lecherous.

Hearing his laughter, the elders ahead instinctively glanced back at Ye Chen. Seeing his sleazy grin, they knew he wasn't thinking anything proper.

Caught in their stare, Ye Chen stopped laughing and immediately looked up at the misty void. Laughing wasn't a crime, after all.

"Brother-in-law, hello."

As they walked, a naive young fairy bowed to Ye Chen, her bright eyes clear as water, blinking like a little sprite.

The term "brother-in-law" caught Ye Chen completely off guard.

It made Ji Ningshuang's cheeks flush with red.

And it nearly made the elders trip and fall. Once they steadied themselves, they shot Ye Chen looks, their faces as dark as charcoal.

"Brother-in-law, hello."

The young fairy's words triggered a chain reaction, and the other fairies joined in the fun.

One after another, they called out "brother-in-law," their voices sweet like melodious notes lingering in the air.

"Good, good, all good."

Ye Chen laughed cheerfully.

"Are you all that idle? Go back to your cultivation."

The elders scowled, afraid that if they heard any more, they'd lose their temper and start a fight.

The fairies stuck out their tongues and dispersed in groups, but even as they walked away, they couldn't resist winking at Ye Chen.

"So welcoming."

Ye Chen rubbed his hands together. With so many fairies, if he took one a day, it would last for years.

"Out of the way."

One female elder shoved Ye Chen aside.

"Tch."

Ye Chen shrugged it off and followed along.

When they reached the grand hall of Yaochi, the atmosphere turned solemn.

Two rows of female elders sat in perfect order, not a man among them.

At the head sat Yaochi Immortal Mother, a peak Quasi-Emperor with no sign of age, her face breathtakingly beautiful.

It had to be said, Jiu Jianxian had good taste—Yaochi Immortal Mother's beauty rivaled that of Diji.

Unfortunately, this woman had chosen her sect over all else, shouldering its burdens for thousands of years without daring to let go.

"Jiu Jianxian, if it were me, I'd have whisked her away long ago. When I get back, I'll teach you how to win her over."

Ye Chen muttered to himself, thinking what a waste it was for such a beauty.

"I greet the Immortal Mother."

Ji Ningshuang bowed again.

"I greet Great-Grandma."

Xiao Yefan knelt on the ground.

"You little one, come here."

The word "Great-Grandma" delighted Yaochi Immortal Mother, who set aside her authoritative demeanor.

Ji Ningshuang carried Xiao Yefan over, and the Immortal Mother took him, gently tapping his nose with her slender fingers.

In that moment, Yaochi Immortal Mother showed no trace of authority, like a kind great-grandmother full of affection.

The atmosphere here was warm, but below, it was strangely tense.

The two rows of female elders eyed Ye Chen up and down, scanning him from head to toe multiple times. Their faces were lined with dark veins, as if they wanted to teach him a lesson.

Even Ye Chen, with his composure, felt a chill run through him, as if he were about to be ganged up on.

"In three days, there will be the Yaochi grand assembly. You'll stay here for three days. The Holy Lord of Heaven Court has no objections, I assume?"

Yaochi Immortal Mother, while playing with the little one, glanced at Ye Chen.

"None at all."

Ye Chen chuckled sheepishly. It was a rare trip back to her family; staying a few days made sense.

"Objections or not, it doesn't matter."

The elders glared at Ye Chen before standing up and crowding around Xiao Yefan.

No wonder people said kids were adorable. The elders' expressions darkened when they looked at Ye Chen, but they lit up with smiles for Xiao Yefan, each one more amiable than the last.

Compared to this father, they much preferred the little tiger-like boy, who was just delightful to behold.

Ye Chen pouted. The mighty emperor of Da Chu, the Holy Lord of Heaven Court, had never felt so awkward before.