Chapter 26: The Demon Lord Junzhu's Slacking Daily Life Chapter 26: A Love-Addled Brain Gets You Killed

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Protagonist:

Yan Qianqian

Today she still did not need to go to the Shangshufang; Qianqian carefully groomed herself neatly, then set off on the path of martial cultivation together with Yan Wang. Following the last time she whipped apples, this time Yue Yi produced walnuts, having Qianqian practice whipping walnuts, requiring that one lash split a walnut in two. One saw Qianqian's movements were practiced; a flick of the whip in her hand sent the walnut flying like an arrow loosed from a bow, its speed staggering. Yet it did not split in two; she swiftly ran to where the walnut fell, immediately raised her whip again and continued whipping the walnut, as if she knew no fatigue.

Simultaneously, Yan Wang to the side was also cultivating with full concentration. Relying on the diligence of rising early each day, he had already mastered an entire exquisite set of sword techniques, and at this moment was able to engage in simple sparring with Yue Yi, his moves displaying steadiness and decisiveness. By comparison, Qianqian appeared somewhat lax, often fishing for three days and drying nets for two, lacking the spirit of perseverance in cultivation. But it cannot be denied that both had made certain progress on their respective paths, especially Yan Wang, whose progress was more remarkable, truly advancing a thousand li in a day.

Time quietly flowed away; by this morning the two ended their tense martial practice. They smiled at each other, discussing going out for an outing to relax body and mind.

However, regarding the destination, the two fell into bewilderment; they racked their brains but could not think of a suitable place. Just then, the gatekeeper hurriedly came to report, saying the Young Master Qi from the Imperial Censor's residence had specially come looking for the Fourth Young Master.

Yan Wang had a servant take him to the Front Hall, while he himself first returned to his room to change out of the clothes soaked through with sweat. Qianqian, on the other hand, like a little rabbit, hopped her way to the Front Hall. The moment she entered, she saw Qi Yu sitting on a chair in a daze, and Qi Xi sitting on the chair beside him.

Seeing Qi Xi, Qianqian immediately called out happily: "Qi Gege, Xi Xi, how come you're here, is it to come play with me?" Qi Xi hurriedly stood up, smiling as she replied: "Qianqian, my elder brother and I plan to go to the teahouse to listen to storytelling this afternoon." Qi Yu continued: "A new book came out recently, supposedly very good, bought exclusively by the teahouse, only available to hear at the teahouse, it's been very popular lately!"

Hearing this, Qianqian instantly grew interested, "Really? Then let's go together later, Fourth Elder Brother went to change clothes, he'll be here soon, let's wait for him a bit."

"Deal!" Qi Yu and Qi Xi answered in unison. Not long after, Yan Wang, having changed into a clean set of clothes, walked in. Qi Yu repeated what he had just said to him; Yan Wang originally had no interest, but truly could not withstand Qianqian's pleading little eyes, and in the end agreed to go out together.

Several people rode in a carriage, arriving at the recently exceptionally popular teahouse; inside it was already packed to the rafters!

Fortunately Qi Yu had already reserved a private room before coming; the group followed the waiter up to a private room on the teahouse's second floor; the second floor was not as crowded as the first, because many on the second floor were there to drink tea and discuss business, there were also storytelling listeners, but it had not yet started, so they all stayed in their own private rooms and did not come out.

After the four sat down they ordered a pot of fine Yu Shan tea, plus a plate of osmanthus cake, a plate of lotus flower pastry, a plate of tuckahoe cake, and a plate of melon seeds; Qianqian sat down and took a sip of tea, savoring it carefully, only feeling a wave of tea fragrance and light tea fragrance, its rich intensity reaching straight to the upper palate; some tea's fragrance stays only on the tongue coating, but its tea fragrance filled Qianqian's entire oral cavity including the nasal cavity with that richly fragrant taste.

After drinking that fragrantly aromatic tea, Qianqian slowly picked up the exquisite lotus flower pastry. The lotus flower pastry presented a lifelike lotus flower shape; the pink petals on the outside seemed meticulously carved, each piece thin as a cicada's wing yet delicate, as if a light touch would shatter it; while the yellow flower heart inside was like a brilliant pearl, emitting an enticing luster.

When she gently bit down, only a "Crunch!" was heard, the outer crust instantly crisping open; that crisp sound seemed to play a beautiful melody by the ear. Simultaneously, the soft glutinous sensation in the mouth brought joy; the texture was dense like clouds, spreading freely on the tongue tip, mixed with a rich milky fragrance, penetrating heart and spleen.

Qianqian's eyes instantly shone, filled with delight; she couldn't wait to pick up a piece of lotus flower pastry and hand it to Qi Xi beside her. The two smiled at each other, then happily ate away; the sweet taste spread in their mouths, as if making the whole world become beautiful.

After a while, the long-awaited storytelling master finally arrived. He stood tall and straight, striding with steady steps to the center position of the first floor, where an ancient table was placed. On the table quietly rested an eye-catching sign, written with several vigorous, powerful large characters, as if narrating past stories. One saw the storyteller wore a gorgeous long robe, embroidered with exquisite patterns that shimmered with mysterious light under the lamps.

In his hand he waved a feather fan; the feather fan was light and nimble, as if an extension of his body. With his appearance, the originally clamorous hall instantly quieted down; all eyes focused on him. He smiled faintly, then lightly slapped the wake-wood; that crisp sound seemed to break the silent atmosphere, entering everyone's ears.

He opened his mouth and said: "Gentlemen scholars, today fate brings us together here, so I shall present a tale of twists and turns, gripping and moving, of joys and sorrows, partings and reunions; may all who listen feel stirred and gain insight into the myriad facets of life..." Having spoken, he slowly sat down, his eyes revealing a trace of determination, then began to narrate that superb story; his voice rose and fell with cadence, as if possessing a magical power, drawing the crowd into a brand new world...

The story told of an incomparably beautiful celestial maiden, whose heart held endless curiosity and yearning for the mortal world; taking advantage of the heavenly guards' negligence, she quietly slipped down to the mortal dust. When she descended upon this unfamiliar yet vibrant world, it was as if a brand new door had opened.

In this bustling mortal world, she chanced upon an ordinary yet uniquely tempered mortal. This mortal, upon hearing her mysterious identity and supernatural abilities, instantly ignited a fierce desire within, and began using every trick to pursue this celestial maiden.

His honeyed words were like a sweet torrent, continuously striking the celestial maiden's heartstrings; his flattering speech was like an invisible sharp blade, easily slicing through the celestial maiden's originally calm heart-lake. Gradually, the celestial maiden was bewildered by his sweet talk, and finally agreed to be with him.

The celestial maiden in love seemed to have become a different person; she unreservedly displayed her immortal arts, solely to satisfy this mortal's every demand. Be it glittering gold, silver, and jewels, or vast expanses of houses and land, she could easily bestow them upon him. In her eyes, as long as this mortal was happy, she was happy.

However, the celestial maiden's descent to the mortal world was ultimately discovered by the Heavenly Emperor. Upon learning this, the Heavenly Emperor's Dragon Countenance flared with rage; he immediately ordered the celestial maiden to sever contact with that mortal at once and return to the Heavenly Court immediately. Facing the Heavenly Emperor's awe-inspiring command, the celestial maiden's heart surged with endless pain and struggle. She knew the consequences of defying the Heavenly Emperor, but her heart had already been deeply occupied by profound love, unable to extricate herself.

She looked at this mortal who had once moved her heart, her eyes flashing with determined light. She secretly vowed that even if she had to oppose the Heavenly Emperor, she would definitely remain in the mortal world, staying by this beloved mortal's side; even if suffering the world's harshest punishment, she would never regret it.

And the Heavenly Emperor agreed that as long as the celestial maiden excised her immortal bones she could stay with this mortal forever; the celestial maiden endured the pain and shaved off her immortal bones, wanting to be with the mortal forever, but this mortal, knowing she was no longer a celestial maiden and had no immortal power, unceremoniously told her not to come bother him anymore; the celestial maiden persisted again and again but was ultimately abandoned; the celestial maiden without immortal power even survival became a problem; on a heavy snow day she froze to death by the roadside.

Hearing this, the crowd all couldn't help falling silent; some even shed sympathetic tears; when the atmosphere among the crowd was low, one saw the storyteller shake his feather fan, *pa* slap the wake-wood and speak: "However the celestial maiden did not perish; originally all this was the Heavenly Emperor's test of her, also her destined tribulation. Only by experiencing love's suffering can one sever the threads of emotion. The immortal bones were not excised, merely concealed by a special method; the immortal power did not vanish, merely temporarily sealed.

The celestial maiden's death was precisely the key to unsealing. Ultimately, the celestial maiden became the next Heavenly Emperor. As for this mortal, after the celestial maiden passed away, everything manifested by immortal power turned into stone. Because he himself possessed only a glib tongue and no other talents, the wife he ultimately married despised him in every way, even later beating and scolding him at the slightest provocation. Love, hate, passion, enmity are all karma; good and evil, in the end, meet their retribution; today's story ends here, welcome everyone to come again next time."

As the storytelling master's final gripping words fell, the whole venue instantly surged with waves of enthusiastic cheers like a tide; those cries of "Good!" seemed ready to pierce the heavens. Many listeners were even more excited, one after another throwing the broken silver in their hands unhesitatingly onto the stage; those crisp sounds intertwined, as if playing a unique melody. Seeing this, the storytelling master slightly raised his feather fan, lightly patted his long robe, his bearing elegant and composed, strode with steady steps down from the high platform.

At this moment, Qianqian and Xi Xi at the private room door were also listening as if intoxicated. They immersed themselves body and soul in the story world narrated by the storytelling master, as if they themselves had become part of it. After the crowd finished listening, they rose one by one, carrying expressions of unsatisfied longing, slowly departing.

By dinner time, everyone dined together in the dining hall; Qianqian was eating happily when An Wang suddenly put down his chopsticks, curiously asking what the two of them had actually done on their outing today. Qianqian slowly ate her rice while intermittently recounting to An Wang the wonderful story told by the storytelling master she had heard today. An Wang listened quietly, his eyes revealing a trace of attentiveness.

When Qianqian finished recounting, An Wang frowned and asked: "Then what truth did you understand from this story?" Qianqian replied without hesitation: "A love-addled brain gets you killed." Hearing this, An Wang's face was full of puzzlement; he secretly thought: "Is this a truth a three-year-old child can comprehend?" To the side, An Wangfei also cast an inquiring gaze, softly asking: "How did you come up with such an answer?"

Qianqian's childish voice rang out: "The elder sisters downstairs said so; they often discuss these matters." An Wang, hearing this, nodded thoughtfully, with a look of sudden realization. Thereafter, everyone fell silent, quietly enjoying this peaceful dinner, though their thoughts seemed still lingering in the story just told.