When the wolf demon arrived with his people, they overheard Lan Yan and Jun Yelan’s promise. “Come, let us celebrate!” he called out. “Let us celebrate Miss Lan and Your Highness Jun’s wedding!”
The wolf tribesmen surrounded Lan Yan and Jun Yelan, letting out long howls to the sky. The cacophony of wolf calls echoed through the entire mountain forest, filled with joy as they cheered for the newlyweds.
Lan Yan was almost startled but then her face broke into a smile. She laughed and played along with the wolf tribesmen.
Jun Yelan watched Lan Yan, a radiant smile on his lips, his hand clasped tightly in hers.
From within the crowd, the wolf demon shouted, “Miss Lan, Your Highness Jun, why don’t you kiss!” The wolf tribe was more open-minded and didn't fuss over elaborate rituals.
Hearing this, Lan Yan shyly lowered her head.
Jun Yelan, however, cupped Lan Yan’s face, gently touched her cheek, and then swept her into his arms. He carried Lan Yan through the crowd of wolves, his face alight with a smile as he walked forward.
Lan Yan’s face was flushed crimson, her head buried in Jun Yelan’s chest. He had become so bold.
The wolf demon shouted from behind, “Sweet dreams tonight!” He squinted his eyes, continuing to cheer with his tribesmen.
Jun Yelan had already brought Lan Yan back to the wooden hut, gently placing her on the bed, and leaning over her.
Lan Yan’s heart pounded. She closed her eyes, allowing herself to accept Jun Yelan.
…
A night of enchantment ensued.
The next morning, Lan Yan sat before the vanity, combing the hair that fell over her shoulders.
Jun Yelan came up behind her, took the comb from her hand, and slowly began to style her long, flowing hair.
Lan Yan looked up, gazing at herself and Jun Yelan in the mirror, a smile on her face. “Wait, Yelan, can you actually comb hair?” She certainly didn’t want to have to re-do it.
“I should be able to,” Jun Yelan said, amused by Lan Yan’s question, though he seemed unsure himself. He smoothed her hair, then gathered it into a bun in his palm. From his palm, it transformed into a hairpin, which he then secured in Lan Yan’s hair.
Lan Yan looked at the flower petals carved on the hairpin and asked curiously, “When did you prepare this hairpin?”
Jun Yelan rested his hand on Lan Yan’s shoulder, leaning close to her cheek and smiling. “For a long time now. You’ve given me so much, but I haven’t given you anything yet.”
“Oh, but you did! The clothes and ring you bought me at the demon market,” Lan Yan said, taking the ring from her waist pouch. She had kept it. If it hadn’t been too conspicuous, she would have worn it every day.
Jun Yelan clasped Lan Yan’s hand, looking at the ring in her palm. “These are different.” He had made this hairpin himself, carving it from the branches of a divine tree. It could protect Lan Yan’s safety.
“How are they different?” Lan Yan couldn’t see any difference at all.
Jun Yelan gently pressed Lan Yan’s shoulders, picked up the eyebrow pencil from the table, and smiled. “Alright, don’t overthink it. Your husband will do your makeup today.”
“Okay.” Lan Yan sat properly, her face filled with a smile as she watched Jun Yelan before her, applying makeup to her eyebrows.
After a while, Jun Yelan put down his tools and smiled. “There, dear wife. Take a look and see if you are satisfied.”
Lan Yan turned to look in the mirror. Today, she had an added layer of elegance compared to her usual self. Then she noticed that it looked as though she wasn't wearing any makeup. “Are you sure you did it? My eyebrows are still faint, and my lips too.”
“My wife is beautiful as is, she doesn’t need much makeup,” Jun Yelan said with a smile. While he was doing her makeup, he thought Lan Yan was already beautiful enough. There were many handsome men in the wolf tribe, and he couldn’t risk Lan Yan being snatched away.
Lan Yan could only give Jun Yelan a helpless glance and say, “Fine, let it be. Let’s go out for a stroll.”
“Alright.” Jun Yelan took Lan Yan’s hand, interlocking their fingers as they walked out in sync.
The wolf tribe was a scene of peace and tranquility until suddenly, a tribesman guarding the mountain gate rushed up, shouting, “Wolf King, bad news! There are many demonic beasts at the foot of the mountain. They are here to investigate Your Highness Jun.”
“Damn it, how dare they come to my territory and cause trouble!” the wolf demon exclaimed, enraged and ready to charge. Lan Yan stopped him.
Lan Yan said, “Just fight them off. Don’t reveal too much, or it will attract even more demonic beasts.” After the wolf demon descended the mountain, she looked at Jun Yelan.
Both she and Jun Yelan were fugitives now. Staying here was no longer safe.
Jun Yelan understood Lan Yan’s meaning. “Yan’er, we have to leave. In this vastness of the Six Realms, is there any place we can call home?”
Seeing Jun Yelan’s dejected expression, Lan Yan cupped his face and smiled. “No one has a place. We’ve been to the cultivation world, we’ve been to the demon realm. Next, let’s go to the human realm.”
“Do you remember I told you the human realm has so many fun things and delicious food? Let’s play enough in the human realm first, and then we can go see the demon realm and the ghost realm.”
The Six Realms were so vast; she refused to believe she couldn’t find a place for herself and Jun Yelan.
Jun Yelan couldn’t help but smile. He clasped Lan Yan’s hand and nodded. “Yan’er is right. We’ll do as Yan’er says.” In truth, for him, as long as Lan Yan was by his side, that was enough.
But he also knew Lan Yan cherished peace and quiet, and being with him was anything but peaceful. He felt he owed Lan Yan and wanted to do everything he could to make her happy.
Lan Yan’s lips curved upwards. Since the plan was made, they should leave soon, to avoid burdening the wolf tribe.
Soon, the wolf demon returned. Lan Yan told him of her plan and then asked him for a favor.
The wolf demon tearfully asked, “Tell me.” He had grown quite fond of Lan Yan and Jun Yelan, and he was reluctant to part with them.
Lan Yan brought Momo over and tied the pouch from her waist around Momo’s. “Momo, this is a gift I’ve prepared for you. From now on, if you encounter any danger, just take something out of this pouch.”
“Also, your father has set up a formation on you, so you don’t need to be afraid.” She had known for a while that Momo called Jun Yelan “father” but hadn’t revealed it. Now, she could openly acknowledge it.
Momo hugged Lan Yan tightly, her little face scrunched up, her expression filled with reluctance. “Mother, Father, you will live, right?” She, too, was a demon beast and could sense danger, knowing what Lan Yan and Jun Yelan were about to do.
This time, Lan Yan didn’t answer. After all, they were being pursued by two realms, and the journey ahead was fraught with peril. She didn’t know the outcome either. She stroked Momo’s head and smiled. “Momo, you must grow up strong.”
She handed Momo over to the wolf demon. “Please, you must protect her well.”
“Don’t worry, Miss Lan. My fangs will guard her with my life!” the wolf demon declared.
With that, Lan Yan was at ease. After bidding farewell to Momo, she packed her belongings and left the wolf tribe.
On the day of their departure, Jun Yelan held Lan Yan’s shoulder, and they stood together at the foot of the wolf tribe’s mountain. “Yan’er, let’s go.”
“Mm.” Lan Yan reluctantly shifted her gaze, clasped Jun Yelan’s hand, and looked forward with determination.
From now on, it would be just her and Jun Yelan facing their pursuers. But they would not surrender easily.