Beastmaster of the Ages

”You don’t sound particularly convincing. Not to mention, you don’t get to unilaterally decide whether or not our marriage is fake,” Tianming said.

”Then who does?!” Suishen Yao snapped.

”Me, of course.”

Suishen Yao still thought that she had the upper hand over Tianming. She raged, ”Very well, looks like your wings have hardened! You’re already recklessly trying to fly around, eh? Just you wait—I’ll deal with you!”

”I think my wings aren’t the only things that hardened,” Tianming said with a smirk.

”Ahh....” Suishen Yao felt the change and panicked. She finally began to cry and bawl. ”Enough! It was my fault! Forgive me! I won’t bully you anymore, alright?”

”Good, you’ve learned the error of your ways. From now on, you have to stop throwing your temper around me. Our marriage was something your grandfather decided with all of Myriadpath Valley as witness. If you act so arrogant with me again, I’ll make sure you give birth to tons of little brats for me,” Tianming said.

”Alright, I’m in the wrong.” Finally, she seemed to turn obedient, and only then did Tianming set her down. Having regained her freedom, she grit her teeth in rage, but at the thought that he was now stronger than her—not to mention the fact that they were married—meant she would have little recourse if he chose to follow through on his threat. Nobody would come to her aid no matter how much she cried, save for Eminent Jiguang.

She clenched her fists and thought, Once Auntie comes back, I’ll tell her you’re bullying me. She’ll definitely snip that thing you’re so proud of off!

”Are you thinking of complaining about me to Auntie?” Tianming said, seemingly having read her mind.

”No!” she gleefully said.

”Good. You shouldn’t have too many ideas. Before Auntie left for the Yin-Yang World, she was chastising me about not having ’dual cultivated’ with you yet. If I really want to do it, you’d better believe that she’ll leave us to our own devices and close the door on her way out,” Tianming said.

”You!” Suishen Yao was fuming so hard that she almost passed out.

Tianming gave her little head a light thump. ”So learn your lesson and don’t be so rowdy. You know who calls the shots in this household now, right?”

”It hurts....” She massaged her head and looked at Tianming, completely stupefied. After some time, she bawled, ”If I’d known that this would come to pass, I would’ve just ignored you and let House Yumo beat you up!”

”It’s too late to regret. Just accept your fate, Little Demon King of Myriadpath Valley.” Tianming was elated that he could finally pay her back for all the spunk she had shown him thus far.

But petty bickering aside, he made sure to not forget that Suishen Yao was one of his benefactors. Without her covering for him, how could he have succeeded after Lan Yun’s death? Even if she had treated him as nothing more than a toy at the start, it was only reasonable considering their status. Tianming didn’t really have a bone to pick with her. Not to mention, he wouldn’t have formed such a good relationship with Eminent Jiguang if it wasn’t for her.

Suishen Yao bawled even harder and her tears fell like rain. It took real talent to drive the little demon king to desperation and despair like that.

Tianming couldn’t bear to see the tears any longer and put his arm around her shoulder in consolation. ”Alright, stop crying. Think about it this way: from now on, I’ll be the only one who’s allowed to bully you, but if anyone else dares to touch a single hair of yours, I’ll beat them up on the spot! Sound good? I’ll cover for you from now on.”

She gave him a hard pinch. ”I don’t care! I won’t accept this! One day, I’ll rise again and get on top of you!”

”Get on top of me? So, you’re the kind who likes to take the lead, eh?”

”Aaaaah!” The endless innuendos drove her mad.

Tianming had just discovered the joy of frustrating a girl of inviolable status. After messing around with her for a bit, he found that she didn’t seem intent on leaving. He couldn’t just head to the Yin-Yang World with her around. ”Come, I’ll take you back to Suishen Cave.”

”Where are you going to go?” Suishen Yao asked.

”To the Grand Myriadpath Ruins for seclusion training.”

”You’re already at the Foundation stage. Why’re you entering seclusion again? How pointless.”

”What else should I be doing then?” He wanted to go to the Yin-Yang World, but he couldn’t let her know. It was rather troubling for him to have to keep his movements a secret from everyone every single time.

”Why don’t you take me out for a leisurely trip? Grandpa said that I’m free to leave Myriadpath Valley now. I want to see the worlds outside, but I just can’t find someone to take with me! I wanted to get Shuangshuang to go, but she’s busy flirting with my brother. I don’t want Little Zhao to tag along. Now....” She turned and looked at him.

”Now what?” Tianming asked.

”Now, I’ve just realized that you’re rather powerful. You’re at least good enough to be my escort! Not to mention, we’re still a married couple, even though the marriage is fake. It’s only reasonable for the two of us to travel together. So do you want to come with me?” She pursed her lips in anticipation, but tried her best to not let it show.

Tianming chuckled.

”What’re you laughing about?” she asked.

”I’m laughing about your ignorance of the nature of males,” Tianming said.

”What do you mean?”

”When a lone guy and girl goes to an outer mundus, there’s nobody to watch over us. You’re such a tempting girl that my eyes would instantly be drawn to you instead of the sights. I can guarantee that, once we get back, you’ll be so fatigued that you won’t even be able to walk.”

”You shameless pervert!” she snapped.

”Are you still certain that you want me to go with you?”

”In your dreams.”

”Damn. Looks like I’ve said too much and missed the opportunity,” Tianming said.

”Buzz off!” Suishen Yao angrily headed toward the Myriadpath Celestial Formation.

”Wait, you can’t be planning to go alone, can you?” Tianming asked.

”Why not? Can’t I?”

”Going alone is boring, not to mention unsafe.”

”Why do you care, you lecher! I’ve seen through the likes of you. You’re still a kid, but your brain’s filled with worms!”

Tianming grit his teeth. ”How about this? Let me enter seclusion for a little more time. I want to improve myself to the point that I feel like I can protect you. After that, I’ll go with you. I promise that there won’t be any funny business.”

”Can I trust you?”

”With the heavens as my witness! If I break my promise, I’ll have no sons.”

”So daughters are fine? Are you a chauvinist?”

”Now you’re just looking for issues to complain about!”

Suishen Yao gave it some thought. ”Fine. Since you’re trying so hard, I’ll begrudgingly agree. I’ll send you to the Grand Myriadpath Ruins myself.”

”Sure!” Tianming went with her to give her some peace of mind. After they entered Myriadpath Valley, she suddenly came up to him and held his arm, leaning against him as they walked.

”Why’re you so intimate all of a sudden?” Tianming asked.

”Those people are far too annoying and keep talking about how we’ve never shown up together since we got married. They’re spreading rumors about how bad our married life is. Some are even saying that I have no charm! I have to pretend to be your girl to manufacture some respectability,” she said, rolling her eyes.

”Huh, is that so?” Tianming could accept that. To protect his dignity as a newly married man, he boldly walked arm-in-arm through the crowds with Suishen Yao.