Chapter 111: Marry Me
Changyi had no more reasons to refuse, so he nodded his head. Ji Yunhe gave him a big hug and pressed herself into his chest before he had time to say "okay".
"Big-tailed fish," she said as she closed her eyes, "thank you for completing me."
Her body felt like fire, the only one in this world that could warm him. Changyi wrapped his arms around her and took her into his embrace. He did not speak.
When he was first captured by Princess Shunde, she tried every way possible to make him talk. She insulted him, whipped him, and threatened him, but he kept his mouth closed no matter what. And his silence now was completely different from then. He had too many things he wanted to say.
His feelings, his joy, countless euphemisms, and even some humble dark thoughts. Also his helplessness, sorrow and vulnerabilities. Too many words and emotions jumbled together made him speechless. He opened his lips several times, but in the end, nothing came out.
Changyi was a jiaoren from the deep sea. There, he lived his life in solitude with no desires for more. But in the human realm, he experienced so many unpredictable ups and downs. He saw the world, and went through the ebbs and flows of human hearts, losing some, and gaining some...
He thought he had seen everything and was at peace with himself. But Ji Yunhe always disturbed his tranquility so easily.
Although Changyi had always known how important Ji Yunhe was to him, only now did he feel her influence so clearly and absolutely. Her words stirred him so deeply, and thinking about her being alone in the future complicated his feelings even more. He was happy and heartbroken at the same time.
These contradictory and raging emotions made him tremble. He bit his lips with canine teeth much sharper than ordinary humans, and tightened his arms around Ji Yunhe.
"It's you who completes me."
His whisper fell only into her ears. They embraced each other in the silence of the night, as if they were the only people in the world.
But good times always passed by so quickly. The vast northern border still needed to be taken care of. There was no time for them to indulge in themselves. Even if he only had ten days.
During these ten days, they were not just Ji Yunhe and Changyi, but a demon master and the venerable Lord of the North. They were responsible for the livelihoods and wellbeing of countless people.Ji Yunhe pulled herself from Changyi's arms and stroked his head.
"I have to go back to the border. I will come again tomorrow. Also, I already told Luo Jinsang and Qu Xiaoxing that we will be getting married in three days."
"Three days?" Changyi blinked then frowned. "How can that be enough time to make preparations...?"
He paused and did not finish his sentence. The situation in the Northlands, Changyi knew better than anyone.
Currently, everyone was busy accepting refugees and deploying supplies. Even the servants inside the Demon Terrace had all been sent out to help. Changyi basically took care of his own food and clothing right now, so there would be no one to help prepare for their wedding either. No manpower and no money to even set up a banquet, let alone a grand ceremony...
"We will keep it simple," Ji Yunhe said.
"I came back a while ago. I was sure you would agree to marry me, so I took the liberty of making some arrangements already." Changyi looked at the triumphant smile on her face, and the corners of his mouth followed suit. He liked seeing her happy. He watched her count with her fingers.
"I asked Luo Jinsang and Qu Xiaoxing and some others to help prepare for the wedding. It's just preparing some wine, some simple dishes, and getting some red candles. I can make our wedding attire myself, no need to bother others. And for the wedding banquet, we will just invite som bye friends. I also want to invite the two who were in prison with me. They can be considered as witnesses to our past experiences..."
Ji Yunhe laughed out loud speaking of them. "I wonder how they will react once they find out that we are getting married."
Recalling how he had almost killed her himself at that time, Changyi smiled helplessly, and then fell into silence again. Ji Yunhe was still counting the people she wanted to invite when she saw the shift in Changyi's mood.
"What's wrong? Did I name someone you don't want to invite?" She thought for a moment and asked,
"Qu Xiaoxing? You don't like him?"
"It's not that… I just feel like you deserve so much better," Changyi said.
"This should have been initiated by me, and done by me... and not so hasty."
"Hasty or not, it doesn't matter. Marriage is just solidifying our relationship and getting blessings from our friends and family. Sincerity is the same. You don't like grand shows and I don't care for them either, so in my opinion, simple is best and just right."
Ji Yunhe playfully brushed his chin with a fingertip and said, "Big-tailed fish, marry me in three days. I'm going to go now."
She waved her hand and left. The residual warmth of her fingertip, however, lingered on Changyi's chin.
Three days later, she would become his wife. Although Changyi had already planted his mark on her, he was now going to give her the identity she wanted by the human tradition. Changyi touched his chin and his face blushed a little.
When he dropped his hand, he heard several crisp sounds coming from the floor. Changyi looked down. His arm had frosted over just now and the ice broke from his movement, falling to the ground. The broken ice crystals reflected his face in pieces, and the slight redness on his cheeks faded away...