Chapter 16 : The Demon King
16: The Demon King
The night was ink-black. Yan Chi’s obsidian armor glinted with a savage, imperious sheen under the torchlight. He galloped forward, reining in his steed before the marquis’s estate gates. The horse reared with a wild, piercing neigh, and in that instant, the entire estate fell so silent one could hear a pin drop.
This was not the bridal procession. It was a crack military unit whose arrival shook the heavens.
Whose soldiers were these? And who was this overwhelmingly formidable young commander?
"Yan… Chi? Xiao Qi? Is that Xiao Qi?!"
In the breathless silence, the Grand Princess’s voice rang out, tinged with delight and excitement. She rose, her steps trembling slightly as she moved toward the hall’s entrance. Seeing this, Jiang‑shi and the Anyang Marquis immediately stepped forward to support her.
Outside the gates, Yan Chi sat tall on his horse, his sword-like brows lifting.
A faint curve touched his thin lips. He tossed his riding crop and long spear to a subordinate, dismounted in one fluid motion, and strode straight through the estate gates.
Beneath the blaze of celebratory lanterns, everyone instinctively narrowed their eyes.
His black armor emanated a chill, intimidating light; his wine-dark cloak billowed behind him like a banner of war. Yan Chi strode forward with powerful, ground-eating steps, his long legs cutting through the folds of his robes, his posture domineering as he reached the crowd.
His aura was oppressive, but what drew even more attention was his exceptionally handsome face.
The vast, bloody aura of the battlefield had not coarsened or aged him. Instead, his nose was proud and straight, his brows sharp as if cut by a blade, his lips thin and finely carved. The lines of his cheeks blended delicate refinement with the hard, clean angles of chiseled stone. Though clad in heavy battle armor, his lithe, steady gait alone suggested the formidable, steel-like physique that must lie beneath the war robes.
And beneath that awe-inspiring countenance, the most captivating feature was his pair of long, phoenix-shaped eyes. Lashes dark as raven feathers framed pupils of deep, liquid black, seeming to hold within them the moonlight of the desert or the imprisoned glow of blood and beacon fires, profoundly soul-stirring.
Every guest present, regardless of age or gender, was momentarily transfixed.
In looks, none could compare. In presence, none could match him. Could such a majestic, peerlessly proud man truly exist in this world?
"Xiao Qi?! Is it Xiao Qi?!"
Seeing Yan Chi enter, the Grand Princess took two more eager steps forward.
Yan Chi heard her and laughed brightly. "Eight years apart, and Grand Aunt still recognizes this Xiao Qi?!"
With that, he closed the distance in a few strides. Flicking his war robe aside, he dropped to one knee before the Grand Princess, bowing his head in a deep salute.
"Yan Chi has come by imperial decree to offer congratulations! Yan Chi pays his respects to Grand Aunt!"
His movements were crisp, his voice clear and resonant, his entire being radiating the sharp efficiency of a seasoned soldier. Even while bowing, his imposing presence did not diminish in the slightest. The Grand Princess’s eyes instantly reddened. She stepped forward and pulled him up by the arm. "Xiao Qi… It really is Xiao Qi. The Emperor sent you? Get up, get up. Your Grand Aunt hasn’t seen you in eight years!"
Helped to his feet, Yan Chi narrowed his phoenix eyes slightly, his face wearing a relaxed, faint smile, his gaze bright and clear, making it plain he was in excellent spirits. "His Majesty ordered Xiao Qi to come. For the Heir’s grand wedding, the Emperor commanded me to deliver gifts!"
He then turned his gaze to Yue Jia beside her. "Congratulations, Brother Jia!"
Yue Jia looked at Yan Chi, his expression slightly blank, as if he hadn’t yet placed who Yan Chi was.
The Grand Princess chuckled at his look. "Jia’er, have you forgotten? This is Chi’er, from your Uncle Rui’s household!"
Understanding dawned on Yue Jia’s face. He hurriedly clasped his hands. "So it’s Brother Chi! Back in the capital, Brother Chi had already been sent by Uncle to the army. Afterwards, I came to Jinzhou. By my reckoning, it’s been over ten years since we last met. For Brother Chi to come all this way, I, your elder brother, have failed to properly welcome you!"
As these words settled, the guests unfamiliar with Yan Chi finally understood.
This Yan Chi was actually the heir of Prince Rui!
Yan was the imperial surname of the Great Zhou. Prince Rui, Yan Lin, was the current Emperor’s own brother. Moreover, Yan Lin had achieved outstanding military merits, guarding the Western Frontiers for many years, making him a top-tier pillar of the state. His son, Yan Chi, had been sent to train in the Western Frontier army since childhood, hence acquiring this entire body of majestic, martial aura. For the wedding of the Anyang Marquis’s heir, the Emperor had actually dispatched Prince Rui’s heir to offer congratulations. This alone showed the high regard in which the Emperor held the Anyang Marquis’s household!
"What? The bride hasn’t arrived yet?"
Yan Chi expressed mild surprise. With the sky now completely dark, he had assumed the wedding ceremony would have concluded long ago.
Yue Jia sighed ruefully. "Who knows what delayed them on the road. They should be here soon."
Yan Chi smiled. "Good things take time. No need to worry, Brother Jia."
The Grand Princess held Yan Chi’s hand, unwilling to let go. The older she grew, the more she doted on the younger generation. She glanced toward the estate gates. "Are those soldiers outside yours? Three months ago I heard you won a great victory in the west. How did you suddenly return to the capital?"
Hearing this, a trace of bitter amusement flickered across Yan Chi’s face. "That’s a long story, Grand Aunt. If you wish to hear it, I’ll tell you after the wedding ceremony. In short, Xiao Qi returned to the capital, hadn’t even warmed a seat before His Majesty issued the decree ordering me to rush to Jinzhou."
Mention of the capital caused the Grand Princess to frown slightly. "The capital is in such chaos. It’s hard for him to even remember."
A faint glint flashed in Yan Chi’s eyes. "Set your heart at ease, Grand Aunt. Matters in the capital have been settled. Though His Majesty is immensely busy with affairs of state, he wouldn’t dare forget your important event in the slightest."
The Grand Princess was amused. "You certainly speak well for him!"
In such a public setting, under the scrutiny of countless eyes, Yan Chi smoothly shifted the topic. "His Majesty remembers not only you, but also the Marquis, Lady, and the two young masters. This time, Xiao Qi has brought many gifts. They will be brought into the estate shortly!"
The Grand Princess shook her head with a smile. "As if I covet his gifts…"
Though the ceremonial hall was large, every spectator present was straining their ears to listen. Qin Wan had just emerged from a side passage into the crowd and had expended considerable effort to make her way to the front. Watching Yan Chi enter and learning his identity, she couldn’t help the surprise in her heart.
Most people in Jinzhou didn’t know Yan Chi, but having spent many years in the capital, his name had long thundered in her ears.
This prince’s heir possessed a status of unparalleled nobility, second only to a few imperial princes. Yet at the age of ten, he had been sent to the military camp, where he trained for twelve years. Starting seven years ago, every annual report of military merits listed this Prince Rui heir at the very top. Consequently, though he was rarely in the capital, rumors about him there were countless.
Some said he was possessed by a war god, capable of slaying a million barbarian enemies single-handedly. Others claimed he acted wantonly in the army, a law unto himself. Still others whispered he suffered from a strange illness, possessing immense strength but destined for a short life…
And his military epithet, "Demon King," had also spread back to the capital along with his fame, where it held the power to silence crying children at night.
The origin of this title was rumored to be his invention of one hundred and eight unspeakably cruel tortures for interrogating barbarian prisoners of war. The barbarians were savage, delighting in slaughter, like demons to the border people. Yet these very demons, in the hands of this "Demon King," became obedient and docile, not daring the slightest transgression. From this, one could glimpse the terrifying nature of Yan Chi.
However, Qin Wan had never before seen the Demon King in person. She never imagined she would meet the original after her rebirth.
Just as Qin Wan was sighing over the unpredictability of fate, someone bumped lightly against her side. She turned to see a young gentleman squeezing in beside her. Looking left and right, she assumed she was blocking the way and took a step to the side.
At that very moment, another soldier’s report rang out!
"Report! Marquis! The bridal procession from Duke Song’s household has arrived!"
After a slight pause, he added, "This time it’s genuine. Please make preparations quickly, Marquis…"
Even if it had been a mistake before, it couldn’t be mistaken a second time. Instantly, the entire hall came alive again.
The guests, who had been somewhat cowed by Yan Chi’s presence, pressed forward once more, jostling Qin Wan toward the entrance. She brushed past the young gentleman, feeling something was slightly odd but giving it no further thought, her gaze instead fixed on the long, dark street beyond the marquis’s estate gates.
At the far end of the street, under the glow of festive lanterns, red ceremonial banners and insignia floated forward like rosy clouds.