Chapter 25 Complete

“His Highness Can He asked me to tell you—‘You! Go tell Qi Jiangyuan that I’m ignoring him for the next three days!’” A white Radish Spirit trembled as its green leaves quivered, speaking in a shaky voice.

Just moments ago, Xie Suoyan had led a group of wraiths and ghosts to lodge a complaint, detailing how Can He had snatched their magical artifacts today. Now, hearing this message, Qi Jiangyuan let out a low chuckle.

“Alright,” Qi Jiangyuan brushed his sleeve lightly. “You may go.”

Once the Radish Spirit scurried away in a panic, he slowly rose to his feet.

As he walked, he listened to the Ghost Attendants report: the Little Highness had seized the ghosts’ magical tools, only to return them later completely intact. At this moment, he had stormed back to his sleeping quarters in a huff.

Without hesitation, Qi Jiangyuan headed straight for the sleeping chamber.

Pushing open the door, he was greeted by a warm room. Sure enough, a lump under the brocade quilt on the bed marked someone curled up beneath.

Qi Jiangyuan approached and poked the lump.

It squirmed, then tightened itself further into the blanket.

He poked again, this time with a bit more force.

The blanket was flung aside, revealing a flushed face. Can He stared wide-eyed, his beautiful features now clearly spelling out one thing: he was not happy.

Without giving him a chance to protest, Qi Jiangyuan scooped the radish bundle into his arms and kissed him firmly on the lips.

Can He struggled for a moment, then quickly went limp, letting him deepen the kiss. Between breaths, he mumbled a complaint, “…I’m still mad.”

“I know.” Qi Jiangyuan kissed the corner of his lips. “Went out asking around today—did you find your answer?”

At that, Can He turned his face away, voice muffled. “…I’m a radish.”

No matter how much he didn’t want to admit it, the truth was right there.

He had originally been a radish seed drifting from who-knows-where, landing on the spiritual soil of the Longevity Ruins.

Thirty thousand years had passed. Everyone around him had always assumed he was just an unusually plump ginseng. No one had ever questioned his identity.

Right now, Can He just wanted to calm down.

After all, he’d spent thirty thousand years believing he was ginseng. Changing that mindset overnight was no easy feat.

Qi Jiangyuan ran his fingers through Can He’s hair. “I told you before—whether you’re a radish or ginseng, you’re always the most powerful one.”

Can He’s lashes trembled. He peeked at him. “Really?”

“Of course.” Qi Jiangyuan kissed his earlobe. “The Little Highness is one of a kind in all the Three Realms.”

Can He’s mood lifted a little, but then he remembered something. Burying his face in Qi Jiangyuan’s chest, his ears turned red. “When Xie Suoyan first said I was a radish, I cursed him out…”

“You had your reasons. You’re not to blame.”

“I also smashed the Ghost Master’s Discipline Ruler.”

“He called you food first. Still not your fault.”

“And those guys from the Yuehua Sect said I was a radish too! I broke their swords!”

Qi Jiangyuan gave the same answer: “They deserved it. Definitely not your fault.”

Only then did Can He fully relax. The last trace of guilt in his heart vanished. He lifted his head from Qi Jiangyuan’s chest. “That’s right, radishes are just as good as ginseng!”

He clenched his fist. “What’s that saying again—‘In winter, radish beats ginseng¹!’ I’m the most powerful radish in the world now!”

As long as no one called him “Luo He,” he could accept anything.

Qi Jiangyuan chuckled under his breath and kissed him again.

Can He squirmed from the ticklish kisses, dodging as he said, “But I still want to clearly define my identity.”

He was a Demon King now—he deserved some privileges…

“There’s no rush.” Qi Jiangyuan cut him off, fingers gently stroking the back of his neck. “Let’s discuss the Soul-Binding Ceremony.”

Can He looked confused. “Didn’t we already get married?”

Back in Wujian Prison.

Qi Jiangyuan raised an eyebrow, speaking with deliberate calm. “If you consider that ceremony valid…”

“How could that count!” Can He immediately objected, cheeks flushing with renewed anger.

What kind of wedding was that? It was vague and confusing—he’d somehow gotten married without even realizing it, and Qi Jiangyuan had somehow ended up the groom.

It was practically… a blind wedding²!

He grabbed Qi Jiangyuan’s collar and growled, “We’re doing it! And we’re doing it right! The best ceremony ever! Let the entire Three Realms know!”

Qi Jiangyuan, as if expecting this exact reaction, smiled. “Alright.”

…

Lately, the Three Realms had been in turmoil.

First came the sudden deaths of several powerful figures from the Yuehua Sect, shaking the immortal world.

Before the other sects could react, Daoxi Mountain of the Human Realm had quietly taken over Yuehua Sect’s territories. The remaining disciples of Yuehua Sect were barred from entering the Demon or Ghost Realms.

Old matters resurfaced. Those who had once sided against Qi Jiangyuan now kept their heads down. The once-renowned immortal sect, famed for its Yuehua Sword Technique, was revealed to be riddled with jealousy and infighting. So-called immortals, in the end, were just human.

And just like that, the Yuehua Sect collapsed.

The second matter shook the Demon Realm—a newly risen Demon King had appeared, and his original form was none other than a plump, snow-white radish.

When his identity was still unknown, he was revered throughout the Ghost Realm. Qi Jiangyuan had even issued a decree—within the Ghost Realm, no one was allowed to call the Ginseng Spirit a radish.

After his ascension, an absurd event stirred the Three Realms: all radishes were forced to change their names and be called ginseng.

Fortunately, the farce didn’t last long. The newly crowned Demon King personally put a stop to it.

On the day of the Demon King’s coronation, the Longevity Ruins were more lively than ever before.

Beasts bowed their heads, and myriad demons came to pay homage.

Major sects prepared lavish gifts, sending them in a steady stream to the Longevity Ruins.

The most eye-catching of all was the congratulatory gift from Daoxi Mountain—treasured artifacts and cultivation techniques once held by the Yuehua Sect.

A disciple of Daoxi Mountain respectfully said, “Our Sect Master specifically consulted His Highness the Ghost King, and after careful selection, offers these to His Highness Can He, in hopes of forging a good bond.”

Can He blinked in surprise. “He asked Qi Jiangyuan?”

The disciple merely smiled in silence.

Can He suddenly understood. “Oh, I see. Thanks then.”

So the Ghost Realm had already been conspiring with the other sects of the Human Realm…

In this game, Qi Jiangyuan resolved his vendetta, Daoxi Mountain expanded its territory, and he gained treasures and techniques.

A win-win-win.

With no more meddling pests stirring up trouble, the Three Realms finally entered an era of unprecedented peace.

But he had no mind for that right now.

What troubled him was that the Radish Clan and Ginseng Spirits had started quarreling because of him, grabbing each other’s leaves and brawling in a heap, each insisting Can He belonged to their side.

The radishes argued that Can He was clearly a white radish and would naturally lean toward them.

Even within the Radish Clan, there was internal debate over which variety he belonged to.

After all, there were long white radishes, and round red radishes—but no one had ever seen a round white radish…

The ginsengs, on the other hand, insisted that Can He had grown up among them. Even if he was a radish, he’d formed bonds with the ginsengs… They had even offered ginseng whiskers to the Demon King years before!

It wasn’t until recently that the farce finally calmed down, though no clear winner had emerged.

The people of Daoxi Mountain, invited by Can He, stayed to witness the ceremony.

The altar at the Longevity Ruins rose high into the sky.

Can He stood atop it, dressed in flowing white ceremonial robes, his expression solemn and dignified—he truly looked the part of a Demon King.

He gave a slight nod, and a vast aura of demonic power spread outward. All beasts bowed low.

Xie Suoyan stood among the ghostly ranks, looking up at him, and for the first time felt a stir of awe from deep within.

Then Can He spoke. His voice was calm, yet it pierced the heavens, imbued with the laws of the Dao:

“Empty words are meaningless. On this day of ascension, there shall be blessings!”

When a Demon King ascends, he must bestow a heart technique.

His voice flowed like a clear spring, cleansing the meridians and Demon Cores of the young demons, purging impurities and harmonizing their demonic energy.

Even Xie Suoyan, a Wraith, felt his resentment washed away, his mind clearer than ever before.

Truly worthy of being the Demon King.

So the Little Highness could be serious after all.

Just as Xie Suoyan was marveling, Can He spoke again, solemnly announcing his first decree as Demon King:

“I am a radish, not a ginseng.”

Xie Suoyan: …

Of course, the Little Highness could only stay serious for a few seconds.

But the surrounding demons all solemnly took note.

His Highness is a radish, not a ginseng.

The Ginseng Spirits let out long sighs and wiped away their tears.

“The second matter,” Can He continued after a brief pause, “For thirty thousand years, I have lived as a ginseng. Yet my spiritual essence differs from both radishes and ginsengs of the Demon Realm. I am a unique being, born of heaven and earth.”

“Therefore, I hereby establish a new lineage within the Demon Realm.”

As his words fell, countless root tendrils, white as jade, unfurled from behind him. They wove together in midair, merging into three grand, resplendent characters—

Radish-Ginseng.

Xie Suoyan silently covered his face: ………

The Little Highness actually gave himself his own lineage…

Radish-Ginseng?

And the Ghost King actually let him go through with it?

At least pick something more imposing, like “Mystic Radish Jade Ginseng”!

But the demons had already taken it to heart—

His Highness Can He was neither a common radish nor an ordinary ginseng. He was a Radish-Ginseng.

The Ginseng Spirits and Radish Spirits were finally at peace.

Radish-Ginseng was perfect—part radish, part ginseng!

“The third major matter,” Can He cleared his throat, a faint blush rising to his cheeks, though his voice rang out even louder, “On an auspicious day, I shall hold a Soul-Binding Ceremony with the Ghost King, Qi Jiangyuan.”

A declaration everyone already knew.

The Demon King and Ghost King shared deep affection, witnessed by all Three Realms.

Once the news spread, both the Demon and Ghost Realms sprang into action.

After a full year of preparations, Daoxi Mountain divined an auspicious date and announced it to the Three Realms.

On the day of the Soul-Binding Ceremony, flowers bloomed in riotous color, and birds flew with ribbons in their beaks.

Can He wore a wedding robe of red silk embroidered with golden patterns, his long hair tied high with a jade crown. Qi Jiangyuan stood beside him, his eyes reflecting only Can He’s figure.

Representatives from both realms jointly held the marriage contract and read the vows aloud in unison.

As Can He listened to the words of the marriage contract, he suddenly turned his head and whispered into Qi Jiangyuan’s ear, “I heard that in the Ghost Realm, a wedding means mixing your bone ashes together?”

Qi Jiangyuan held his hand beneath his wide sleeve. “Didn’t I already give mine to you?”

Can He’s ears flushed red.

For the ghost race, handing over one’s remains meant a vow of eternal devotion—never to part, in life or death.

When the ceremony concluded, all races offered their blessings, their cheers echoing to the heavens.

After the grand celebration came the wedding night.

Inside the bedchamber, red candles burned high. After they drank the nuptial wine, Qi Jiangyuan carried him to the bed and kissed him gently.

“The matter of incense offerings is settled,” Can He said between breaths. “I had the demons build a temple for us in the Longevity Ruins. We’re enshrined there now, so there’s no need to worry anymore.”

Though all the incense would be devoured by him, offering it to him was the same as offering it to Qi Jiangyuan—there was no difference.

Qi Jiangyuan’s fate was already bound to his.

If Can He fell, Qi Jiangyuan would fall with him.

If Can He ascended, Qi Jiangyuan would ascend too.

Qi Jiangyuan pinched the soft flesh of his cheek. “Then let’s talk about something else—it’s time you changed how you address me.”

Can He immediately glared at him, seeing right through his intentions. “There’s nothing to discuss. You’re the one who has to call me ‘Husband’!”

Since Qi Jiangyuan had already taken full advantage of him in bed, Can He figured he should at least get the upper hand in words.

Qi Jiangyuan didn’t reply—he simply kissed him again.

Red robes and dark garments slipped to the floor, entwined.

Well into the night, Can He was pushed to the point where tears welled in the corners of his eyes. At last, he cried out in a soft, trembling voice, “Husband…”

Qi Jiangyuan sighed and kissed him again, murmuring between kisses, “Your husband is here.”

Furious, Can He bit down on his shoulder.

But Qi Jiangyuan only chuckled lowly, gazing down at Can He beneath him, his eyes brimming with possessiveness.

This was the Little Radish he had nurtured with his own flesh and blood—his beloved for all eternity.

With that thought, Qi Jiangyuan lowered his head and deepened the kiss once more.

If they wanted forever—if they wanted to ascend together—then they’d have to work hard at their Dual Cultivation.

(The End)

Author’s Note:

It’s finished! A short and sweet little story~

Every time I finish a book, I feel a bit lost, like I’m saying goodbye to my sons. [Heartbroken][Crying][Crying]

Translator’s Notes