Demon Lord and His Unknown Child With the Empress-Chapter 420 : Shi Guitian in Atonement
Chapter 420 - Shi Guitian in Atonement
Demon Realm, Night
The lights of ten thousand homes illuminated the entire Evernight Sovereign City, brilliant fireworks bloomed continuously beneath the night sky, and the city’s bustle had not stopped for a single moment.
Ning Yechen held Luo Ruying’s hand, carrying the already-tired Luo Hongye as they strolled toward the Demon Sovereign Palace.
When passing a fork in the road, Ning Yechen turned his head to look at the hillside at the end of this path.
Miasma permeated the hillside, eerie and treacherous; through the ghostly green miasma, one could see countless graves lining the mountain peak, and the entire mountain emitted a thick aura of misfortune and terror.
“What is it, Husband?”
Luo Ruying asked Ning Yechen in curiosity and confusion while he was staring at the hillside.
“Wife, you take the child and go back first.”
“I’m going to visit Old Shi.”
Ning Yechen said to Luo Ruying beside him.
Without a specific summons, Shi Guitian basically always stayed on that grave mountain and never went out.
Since his return to the Demon Realm, Shi Guitian had only come down from the mountain twice.
Once was when he heard that he had married and had a daughter, and he specially came out to offer his congratulations.
The second time was when he heard he was to lead the Demon Realm army into the Heavenly Realm and came upon hearing the summons.
At all other times, he had never left his grave mountain again.
On such a rare day of celebration, for one person to always remain on a lonely grave mountain was inevitably too dull.
So Ning Yechen intended to invite the old man out.
Hearing Ning Yechen say Shi Guitian lived on this eerie and treacherous grave mountain, Luo Ruying couldn’t help but feel shocked, and after a moment of thought, she stated:
“Then I will accompany you, Husband.”
Having been in the Demon Realm for so long, she was already relatively familiar with and understood Hun Mei and the others.
But Shi Guitian alone was someone she didn't have much understanding of yet.
Opportunities to see him normally were also few and far between.
Since Ning Yechen wanted to pay a visit to Shi Guitian, she also happened to want to accompany him to take a look.
Ning Yechen thought for a bit and then nodded.
“Alright, then Wife shall go with This Husband.”
After saying that, Ning Yechen led Luo Ruying as they walked toward the grave mountain.
On the hillside, countless graves stood on both sides of the forest path, where dense miasma and fog mixed together, making it nearly impossible to see the path ahead.
The surroundings were terrifyingly eerie and silent, always giving the feeling that something would crawl out of a grave at the next moment.
Rumor had it that people who entered this grave mountain without permission never returned, and a new grave would be added to the mountain!
Over time, the fearsome reputation of this grave mountain in the Demon Realm was second only to that Execution Palace!
Almost no one in Evernight Sovereign City dared to even approach this grave mountain.
“Husband, does Old Shi really live in such a place?”
Luo Ruying looked around at the eerie and terrifying environment; she couldn't see at all how this was a place where a person could live.
“Mhm, Old Shi has already stayed on this grave mountain for nearly a hundred thousand years...”
“It is said that this grave mountain was built by him, grave by grave.”
Ning Yechen led Luo Ruying as they stepped forward, replying with a smile.
Hearing a hundred thousand years, Luo Ruying’s expression was instantly startled.
A hundred thousand years of time!
For such a long time, he had actually remained on this grave mountain?!
“Husband, what has Old Shi been doing remaining on this grave mountain all this time?”
Luo Ruying asked curiously and in confusion.
She couldn't think of anything worth staying here for a hundred thousand years.
Ning Yechen pondered for a moment and explained:
“I also heard it from Qingyou.”
“I heard that Old Shi had a daughter a long time ago...”
“He stays here in atonement, and is also guarding his daughter...”
“Atonement...?” Luo Ruying murmured in confusion.
As they talked, the two had already stepped into a cemetery. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂
Looking out, it was still an endless expanse of graves standing there.
After walking for a while, at the end of the cemetery, a hunched figure could be seen sitting before two graves, staring blankly in a daze.
“Old Shi.”
Ning Yechen called out as he walked over.
“Demon Lord, Madam, this is not a place where you should come.”
“And you especially should not bring the noble Little Princess to such a place.”
Shi Guitian turned around, speaking with a low, weathered voice in a reproachful tone.
Although Ning Yechen had completely protected Luo Hongye in his arms from the miasma, a cemetery was not a good place after all, and was not suitable for a child to visit.
“Grandpa Shi~”
Luo Hongye, lying in Ning Yechen's arms, turned around and called out in a soft, sweet voice.
This “Grandpa Shi” instantly caused Shi Guitian's expression to freeze; a sliver of light appeared in his dull, gray eyes, and a smile surfaced on his face, completely forgetting that he had just been blaming Ning Yechen for bringing the child to such a place...
Shi Guitian hurriedly fumbled through his person, looking for the remaining candies he had previously given to Luo Hongye, and carefully extended them in front of her, for fear of even touching her once.
“Thank you, Grandpa Shi~”
Luo Hongye held the candies with both hands and thanked him in a soft voice.
Shi Guitian's bandage-wrapped face was full of smiles as he turned to Ning Yechen and said gratefully:
“Many thanks, Demon Lord...”
Being able to see the petite and cute Luo Hongye, he felt very satisfied in his heart.
“Since Old Shi likes children so much, why not leave the mountain?”
Ning Yechen asked.
Hearing this, Shi Guitian fell into silence, glanced back at the two graves behind him, and said with firm words:
“This old man is atoning for his sins...”
“Before the sins are fully atoned for, this old man will not leave this place.”
“In a few days it will be This Lord's celebration day; do you also not intend to leave the mountain to celebrate for This Lord?”
Ning Yechen joked playfully.
Shi Guitian's expression was hesitant, and he fell into silence.
“Grandpa Shi, it's cold here, and so quiet; won't you be lonely being here alone?”
“Come out and play with Ye Ye~”
“There are so, so many people outside, and so, so much food~”
“Ye Ye can take Grandpa Shi to find delicious food~”
Luo Hongye said excitedly to Shi Guitian, and even shared some food she had bought on the way with him.
Shi Guitian reached out to take the snacks Luo Hongye gave him, his gray eyes moist, his expression falling into deep memories and contemplation.
“Grandpa Shi, you, why are you crying...”
“Did Ye Ye do something wrong...?”
Luo Hongye's small face was full of worry, and she looked back at Ning Yechen and Luo Ruying with some self-blame.
She felt as if she had made Grandpa Shi cry...
Ning Yechen and Luo Ruying dotedly stroked Luo Hongye's small head.
“Don't worry, Grandpa Shi is happy.”
“R-Really...?”
Luo Hongye asked worriedly.
Shi Guitian hurriedly nodded his head.
“Little Princess, do not worry; being able to receive the Little Princess's gift, this old man is merely happy...”
“Then in the future, Ye Ye will come to see Grandpa Shi often and bring other delicious foods~!”
Luo Hongye, hearing this, was overjoyed.
Shi Guitian looked at the snacks in his hand and turned his head to look at Ning Yechen.
“Demon Lord, on the day of the celebration, this old man will go to offer congratulations as promised.”
“That's more like it~”
“Then This Lord shall take his leave first.”
“Don't forget to keep the appointment.”
Ning Yechen smiled slightly, carrying Luo Hongye as he turned to leave together with Luo Ruying.
“Bye-bye, Grandpa Shi~”
Luo Hongye lay on Ning Yechen's shoulder, waving her small hand in farewell.
Shi Guitian also slowly raised his hand and waved, watching Luo Hongye until she disappeared from his sight, before turning back reluctantly to look at a smaller grave behind him…
