Old Turtle was sent by the new Demon King. He spoke earnestly, "Your Highness Jun, the demon realm is already in peril after the internal strife. I implore you to return and take charge."
"I have always said that I am no longer Your Highness Jun. These matters should be resolved by yourselves," Jun Yelan maintained his icy demeanor.
He had protected the demon realm for thousands of years and had even been attacked by the demon realm. Now that he had finally arrived in the human realm, he did not want to get involved in these affairs anymore.
Old Turtle sighed deeply, "Your Highness Jun, since you supported the new Demon King's ascension, why not help him a little more!"
"Hmph," Jun Yelan sneered, "You truly are accustomed to finding me. What I have done for the demon realm is already enough." Ever since he was captured last time, his cultivation was far from its peak.
After the battle in the abyss, losing two horns, he was now hardly able to contend with the cultivation world.
Seeing this, Old Turtle had nothing more to say, his eyes filled with helplessness. "Your Highness Jun, I will report this truthfully to the Demon King. However, I still wish to say that the new Demon King is waiting for you."
Jun Yelan said no more. After Old Turtle left, he looked at Lan Yan behind him and smiled, "You heard everything."
"Mhm," Lan Yan walked over with a smile, looking into Jun Yelan's deep eyes, and said, "Yelan, you have made up your mind." Seeing Jun Yelan nod, she said no more.
Jun Yelan reached out and hugged Lan Yan's shoulders, looking heavily towards the entrance of the demon realm, "Yan'er, we managed to escape the pursuit of the cultivation and demon realms and finally arrived in the human realm."
"They tried to kill me when they didn't need me. Now that they need me, I don't want to go back." He was not a saint; he had selfish desires too, wishing to live a peaceful life with Lan Yan.
Lan Yan nodded, understanding Jun Yelan's concerns, and simply stayed by his side.
As night fell, the mountain forest became quiet.
Lan Yan opened her eyes and found no one beside her. She looked out the window.
She saw Jun Yelan standing alone at the entrance to the demon realm, concentrating his energy to reinforce the array at the entrance. After finishing this, he returned as if nothing had happened. He looked at Lan Yan, who was fast asleep, and murmured, "Yan'er, I will protect you."
After the person beside her lay down, Lan Yan's eyelashes trembled slightly.
The next morning, Lan Yan opened her front door and saw many demonic beasts. She sighed helplessly. She lowered her voice and said, "Don't wake the person inside. Follow me."
She walked ahead, leading them to the mountain forest behind their home, and set up an array. "This place is very safe. You can stay here."
Among the demonic beasts was the rabbit from before, who bowed to Lan Yan and said, "Thank you." They were all weak demonic beasts and didn't know where else to go, so they came here.
Lan Yan shook her head and said, "Don't tell Jun Yelan that I helped you." She had seen Jun Yelan reinforcing the array last night to help these demonic beasts escape safely, so she guessed he still cared about the demon realm.
She also wanted to help Jun Yelan as much as she could. No matter what Jun Yelan's final choice was, she would support him. Do not advise others to be good without experiencing their suffering.
The demonic beasts all made promises and turned to head into the forest. They did not leave but brought some food from the forest and placed it at Lan Yan's feet.
"We demonic beasts also have dignity. We misunderstood you before, and now we apologize. Lan Yan from the cultivation world, we think you are worthy of our Your Highness Jun. From now on, if you come to our territory, we will entertain you well."
Lan Yan was amused. She suddenly found these demonic beasts quite cute, especially their droopy ears. She nodded, accepting their gesture.
The demonic beasts' faces lit up with smiles, and they walked deeper into the forest, hiding themselves.
Looking at the pile of prey, fruits, and nuts that had formed a small mountain on the ground, Lan Yan smiled wryly. She put everything into her bag before returning.
She happened to see Jun Yelan, who was about to come out to look for her. She rushed into his arms. "Yelan, I just went out for a walk. It's okay."
"Yan'er, there have been many things happening lately. You must be careful," Jun Yelan stroked Lan Yan's back, his eyes full of worry.
Lan Yan looked up and said, "I know." She held Jun Yelan's hand, interlocking their fingers. "Let's go back."
Jun Yelan led Lan Yan home. After breakfast, they went to open their shop.
Lan Yan was responsible for selling things. She would always see Jun Yelan looking distracted. When discovered, Jun Yelan would always smile back at her, but she could still tell that Jun Yelan had something on his mind.
After selling the last pastry, she watched Jun Yelan close the shop and said, "Yelan, let's not go back today. Let's go for a walk by the river."
Jun Yelan's lips curved slightly, and the two of them walked to the riverbank.
No one spoke first; only a few carp in the river leaped about.
Lan Yan sat down, propped her chin with her hands, and mused, "Yelan, I haven't been in the demon realm for long, but I met Momo and Little Wolf. Especially during the few days I stayed with the wolf tribe, I felt that the demon realm also had comforting aspects."
"I used to stay in the cultivation world, read books there, and listen to people there. I even thought the demon realm was terrifying. But only after experiencing it yourself can you truly know."
Jun Yelan turned to look at her.
Lan Yan continued, "Yelan, I think it's the same for you. You've been in the demon realm for thousands of years. Even setting aside the demonic beasts there, you must feel differently about that place."
She cupped Jun Yelan's face, her eyes sincere. "I know you're worried about me, but I'm not afraid. Since it's a place you care about, I naturally care about it too."
"Yan'er." Jun Yelan's heart trembled. Looking at Lan Yan's smiling eyes, he felt they were brighter than anything in the world. He gently pulled Lan Yan into his embrace. "I'm afraid of disrupting our lives and letting you down."
He had promised Lan Yan that they would live days like this from now on.
Lan Yan smiled, "Yelan, for me, this is enough. We have experienced hardships and peace together. Now it's just another experience we're going through together."
"Don't forget, I'm the strongest beast tamer. I'm not afraid of these things."
Jun Yelan chuckled along and pinched Lan Yan's nose. "Yes, you tamed me, the strongest demonic beast." He hugged Lan Yan tighter, warmth spreading through his heart.
Lan Yan understood Jun Yelan's choice and murmured, "Anyway, I'm married to you now. We'll go together, husband sings, wife follows." No matter the final outcome, she wanted Jun Yelan to have no regrets.
Everyone has choices they must make and prices they must pay.
Jun Yelan couldn't help but laugh, his eyes full of doting affection. "Alright. I'm under your control, I can't leave you." He held the person in his arms, making up his mind in his heart.