Married to the One Who Is Not Human

Ji Yu knew her actions were extremely risky. If Jiang Shiqiu was truly a demonic entity unwilling to reveal his true identity, she could die at any moment. 

All exorcists had their memories altered by him, but she was an exception. 

It wasn't that he spared her; it was because the Ji family possessed an innate talent for absolute clarity. No demonic entity in this world could arbitrarily alter her memories or cloud her judgment.

　　This was also why she had ascended to the position of young master of the Ji family.

　　Ji Yu was also taking a gamble, betting that he would not kill her for now.

　　As she had said earlier, if he wanted to kill her, he could do so at any time. Demons in this world acted with brutal cruelty and no humanity. Even if they wanted to toy with someone, why would they need to be so roundabout, continuing to play the "husband and wife" game with her?

　　Sure enough, Jiang Shiqiu smiled.

　　Every time he smiled, it was like a fiery flower blooming in a sea of sin, stunning yet terrifying, causing one to subconsciously ignore his unparalleled beauty and feel only awe.

The golden flames hung in midair, and beyond the flames was endless darkness, as if the two of them were suspended in the universe.

Jiang Shiqiu smiled at her and said, I thought my wife wouldn't ask." 

　　Ji Yu replied calmly, "Would you tell me then?" 

　　"If my wife wishes to know, your husband is naturally willing to tell you." His smile was gentle, "But before I tell you, I want you to know that your husband is sincere toward you and has no intention of teasing you." 

　　His tone was too serious, causing her heart to skip a beat, leaving her feeling a bit at a loss.

　　"I..."

　　She opened her mouth but didn't know what to say.

　　Jiang Shiqiu saw this, sighed, waved his hand, and the last golden flame fell back down, turning into a golden bead.

　　He tied the golden bead with a red string and reattached it to her wrist, saying, "The Ji family's golden flame bead is extremely strong and yang, and I didn't expect it to end up in your hands..."

　　Ji Yu was startled, her usually calm and composed face showing a rare look of bewilderment. 

"You know about the Fire-Devouring Golden Bead?" 

Jiang Shiqiu smiled wryly, finding her dazed and confused expression adorable. He said with a smile, "I know. I once dealt with one of its owners, and our marriage was arranged at that time." 

"Marriage?" " 

　　Ji Yu felt as though she couldn't think straight, repeating his words blankly. 

　　"Yes, our marriage was arranged long ago. We were married the night before last, but my wife doesn't remember the wedding, which truly saddens me..." 

　　He embraced her sadly, resting his face against her slender neck, clinging to her as though he had truly been hurt by her.

　　Ji Yu stood there stiffly.

　　After the golden flame turned into a golden bead and returned to her hand, the surroundings were pitch black. She could feel the ghostly creatures in the darkness beginning to stir again, yet they seemed to fear something and dared not approach.

　　There was no doubt that the creatures feared the man beside her.

　　Who was he?

　　"My lady, I cannot tell you now," Jiang Shiqiu said. "But you can see for yourself."

　　Ji Yu was speechless, and asked instinctively, "How do I see?"

　　As if waiting for her question, Jiang Shiqiu took her hand and said excitedly, "My lady, if you truly wish to see, I can take you there now."

　　Ji Yu: "…"

　　Before Ji Yu could speak, she was pulled into the endless darkness by the excited man.

　　At first, Ji Yu could still feel the ghostly creatures retreating in fear within the darkness, but soon, the commotion ceased, and the surroundings grew utterly silent. The entire world seemed to be left with only them.

　　Though it was the same darkness, the darkness now was utterly different from the earlier darkness filled with evil and filth.

　　Such silence, eeriness, and emptiness... instinctively instilled fear.

"My lady, don't be afraid." Jiang Shiqiu's voice rang out, his tone still as gentle and lingering as ever, "We'll be there soon."

Ji Yu steadied herself and tried to ignore the unsettling aura in the darkness.

This was not a place where living beings could enter.

　　Gradually, her steps became sluggish and stiff, and her thoughts grew chaotic. 

　　Ji Yu heard Jiang Shiqiu's faint voice drifting toward her. He was calling her, but she couldn't concentrate enough to respond. 

　　Without her knowing, the blue robe she wore gradually transformed into a wedding gown. Her pale face flushed with a hint of color, adding a touch of vitality, making her breathtakingly beautiful.

　　Jiang Shiqiu saw her obediently following him as he led her along the banks of the幽河. Her bright eyes stared blankly, reflecting his figure, as if she had locked him deep within her heart. He felt an overwhelming affection for her. 

"My wife." He embraced her, leaned down to kiss her, and laughed softly, "Indeed, it's not the right time yet. You can't bear it."

　　Though he wanted to bring her into his domain, she was still a living being. Whether her soul left her body or her body entered, she could not maintain absolute clarity. 

　　The absolute clarity of the Ji family was still restricted in such a place. 

　　Despite this, Jiang Shiqiu still brought her there.

　　When they appeared before an ancient city standing alone in the vast darkness, countless subjects and monsters within the city raised their heads, bowing in reverence.

"Master!"

"Master!"

"Master, you've returned!"

...

Countless voices echoed, accompanied by terrifying auras of power so formidable that even a single one could bring catastrophe to the mortal realm.

　　Ji Yu's confused mind seemed to clear a little, and the color drained from her face.

　　She instinctively felt afraid.

　　"My wife, don't be afraid."

　　A voice filled with laughter rang out, and her body was embraced in a cold embrace. Although it was so cold and gloomy, it made her relax sincerely, and she instinctively snuggled up to him.

　　"Husband..." she murmured.

　　Jiang Shiqiu leaned down and kissed her lips, saying, "Good girl," and added contentedly, "If you could be this obedient when you're awake, that would be wonderful."

　　Though he said this, he was still exceptionally delighted. Seeing her gaze at him in a daze, her eyes filled with longing, made him adore her even more.

　　He held her close and leaned down gently.

"Wife…"

**

Ji Yu suddenly opened her eyes and found herself leaning against the man's chest. Her body stiffened instantly.

The man holding her noticed her stiffness and looked disappointed, but he was the one who started the accusation: "Wife, you were the one who leaned over. How could I bear to push you away?"

　　Ji Yu: "..."

　　Ji Yu felt a bit embarrassed. Although her memories were vague, like they were covered in a veil, she did remember some things.

　　She vaguely remembered him bringing her to a mysterious, quiet place filled with terrifying beings that instinctively repelled her. Only by his side did she feel safe.

　　"What kind of place was that?" she asked softly. "I think I heard them... calling you 'Master'?"

　　Yue Shaohua and the others also referred to the thing in the stone coffin on the altar as "Master."

　　In that moment, she even wondered if the demonic entity in the stone coffin was him? Or had he deliberately set it up to toy with the demon exorcists?

　　Jiang Shiqiu's gentle smile stiffened slightly.

　　"Wife," he gritted his teeth, "not everyone called 'Master' is the same." 

 Such a filthy, disgusting thing—and she actually thought it could be him? 

 "Wife, you're cursing so badly, you're hurting my feelings!" Jiang Shiqiu looked genuinely hurt, his expression full of grievance.

　　Ji Yu looked embarrassed. 

"I'm sorry," she admitted sincerely. "I shouldn't have doubted you." 

A true gentleman can bend and stretch, and Ji Yu admitted her mistake calmly. 

Knowing that this man was no ordinary person, though she still couldn't figure out his identity, at least she now knew that he wouldn't harm her. 

In fact, he truly treated her as his wife.

　　This realization made her face flush slightly, and her fingers curled tightly, losing her usual composure and calmness.

 Jiang Shiqiu, however, adored her feigned composure and said generously, "My wife, I forgive you."

 Ji Yu's expression paused, and she abruptly changed the subject, asking, "Do you know what happened at Yanyue Mountain Villa?"

　　"I know," he said calmly, showing no remorse for his actions.

　　Despite knowing the truth about Yanyue Mountain Villa, he coldly watched the exorcists circle around in search of the truth, enjoying their fear and panic like a reckless playboy who took pleasure in others' suffering.

　　It was truly… despicable.

　　Ji Yu had already begun to understand his personality. On the surface, he seemed strong and gentle, elegant and courteous, but in reality, he was cold and ruthless, like a god high above, viewing all living beings as mere ants. 

　　This master's true nature was eccentric, wicked, and cynical. 

　　Every negative word could be applied to him. 

　　But this was normal, even inevitable.

　　For he was not human to begin with, a born demonic being. Could one expect him to possess human decency, morality, and the pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty? 

　　That was simply unrealistic. 

　　Ji Yu did not know where he was taking her, but she was certain it was not a place of the mortal world. 

　　If not the mortal world, then... the underworld.

　　No wonder her mind was confused. Living beings cannot enter the underworld; once they accidentally enter, they lose all memory and become disoriented. 

　　Ji Yu's expression grew complex. 

　　"Wife, don't look at me like that," Jiang Shiqiu said, his face betraying irritation. 

　　Upon hearing this, Ji Yu suppressed her emotions, regaining her usual composure, and cautiously asked, "Can you handle it?" "

"Yes!" Jiang Shiqiu replied promptly, "I've always hated that disgusting thing and have wanted to kill it for a long time."

Ji Yu's heart skipped a beat, and she looked at him earnestly, "Jiang Shiqiu, can you please get rid of it?"

After she finished speaking, she saw Jiang Shiqiu staring at her intently.

　　Ji Yu did not avoid his gaze, her face still sincere.

　　With their abilities as demon exorcists, they were currently unable to deal with the thing inside the stone coffin. The only one who could resolve this was Jiang Shiqiu.

　　If Jiang Shiqiu did not act, they would all die here.

　　Ji Yu had her own set of principles. Though she was accustomed to life and death, it did not mean she desired to see death.

　　Since she couldn't solve it herself, asking someone who could solve it to step in wasn't shameful at all.

　　As long as the world was peaceful and the deaths of innocent people could be reduced, nothing else mattered.

　　Jiang Shiqiu suddenly smiled, his smile as gentle and lingering as ever, and said softly, "My dear, you can't ask someone for help without offering any compensation, can you?"

　　Ji Yu nodded. Asking for help certainly requires compensation; she understood that principle. 

　　She couldn't take advantage of him just because he was a demon and not human. 

　　So she asked straightforwardly, "What compensation do you want? As long as we can provide it, we'll give it to you." 

　　The "we" she referred to included the demon exorcists, after all. If Jiang Shiqiu intervened, he would be saving their lives as well, and they couldn't possibly go without offering something in return.

　　Jiang Shiqiu looked at her intently, his face full of anticipation. "I only want the reward from my wife." 

Ji Yu: "…What reward?" 

She felt a pang of anxiety, fearing she couldn't afford it. 

Jiang Shiqiu leaned closer to her, his pitch-black eyes tinged with a hint of crimson, his gaze even more intense. "I want my wife to call me 'husband'…"