Chapter 421.1: A Birthday Gift for Jin Li

Snowflakes drifted down, and the water shimmered as though pear blossoms were adrift upon its surface.

Wide-eyed, Moon Frost gazed at the snow and moonlight in the distance, bewildered. If anyone was more stunned, it was Zhe Gui and the deputy envoy. The two of them had a hundred thousand questions.

Wasn't this meant to be a plot, a betrayal? Wasn't he supposed to march on the Divine Moon Palace and ambush Longyue? How had he ended up wrapped in the arms of a Moon Maiden? Why did the epic war turn into a romance out of nowhere?

In the end, the two could only conclude that he possessed enough charm to bewitch even a Moon Maiden of the Divine Moon Palace. Neither doubted his identity. They had never seen Motong. He had to be a Heavenly Venerable from the Moluo Clan’s territory. That much could not be faked. If he wasn't Motong, who else could he be?

The deputy envoy thought for a while before bowing toward him. "Heavenly Venerable, you are so charming, even a Moon Maiden has fallen for you. May I ask when you will join me to strike the Divine Moon Palace and cripple Heavenly Venerable Longyue?"

So long as Longyue was wounded, Motong would grant her a once-in-a-lifetime chance to step into the Yang Spirit realm. The deputy envoy’s actions put an end to the pleasant atmosphere.

Moon Frost caught the thick scent of danger. She badly wanted to say to Jin Li, "Sis, if you're dating a Heavenly Venerable of the Moluo Clan, could you give me some warning? Or at least, can you put in a word and beg him to spare my life?"

She naturally assumed that Qi Yuan was an enemy as well. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to slip past Motong and arrive here. Inwardly speechless, Moon Frost was on the verge of a breakdown.

Meanwhile, Qi Yuan held Jin Li's slender hand and said softly, "Today is your birthday. I have a few gifts for you."

Jin Li nodded and gripped his hand tightly. It was just like that day at the Seventh Moon Lake, when she had clung to the Faceless Sword God's hand, unwilling to let him go.

Qi Yuan's cold gaze shifted to Zhe Gui and the deputy envoy. As if pierced by a blade, the hearts of both women lurched violently. The color drained from their faces as blood sprayed from their mouths.

His shout cracked like thunder. "Kneel!"

The pair of Mythics were too powerless to resist. Filled with disbelief, they dropped to their knees. Although only a single realm separated a Yang Spirit from a Mythic, the difference in power was unbridgeable.

Qi Yuan instructed, "Close your eyes."

Jin Li glanced at him somewhat fearfully. Nevertheless, she obeyed and shut her eyes. Her hand still clenched around his, as though terrified this was all a dream.

His gaze turned stern. A birthday gift for Jin Li had to be special, one of a kind. Better still, it should start from what Jin Li herself wanted. Luckily, before coming, he'd quietly done his homework. Among the Yin Spirits of the demon abyss, Jin Li was like a battle-crazed maniac, making her infamous as a killing deity. She required an inspiring battle record.

Not only was Qi Yuan meticulous, but he was also considerate and had high emotional intelligence. He swept his broad sleeve, from which a rain of dark shapes tumbled out. Nearly thirty Mythic experts and several hundred Yin Spirits appeared. Overwhelming power sealed them, rendering them unable to move or speak. Shock and confusion filled their faces as their eyes darted around wildly.

Qi Yuan arranged them alongside Zhe Gui and the deputy envoy. He surveyed the sight, thoroughly satisfied. Even if Jin Li didn't burst into tears of joy, surely she'd love it.

He said cheerfully, "You can open your eyes now. Look at the birthday gift I prepared just for you."

When Jin Li opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was Qi Yuan.

He instructed again, "Look ahead!"

Only then did Jin Li turn her gaze. Not far away, she saw several hundred members of the Moluo Clan arranged to spell “Happy Birthday!” Moreover, every single one of them wore a gentle smile, as though they'd come to celebrate Jin Li's birthday. Those without faces had drawn a smiling face on their bellies instead, making them look entirely ridiculous.

Jin Li's gaze went blank for a moment.

Qi Yuan felt smug. Nailed it!

He bragged, rattling off every figure, "Didn’t you need some merits? I humbly present you with four hundred and ninety ordinary Yin Spirits, twenty-nine Mythics, and two traitors."

Jin Li listened intently but her eyes were full of nothing but him. Simply seeing him was the greatest gift for her.

Qi Yuan reminded her again, "Hehe, five hundred twenty-one[1]. in total!"

As a testament to his meticulousness, he’d deliberately rounded the count to a very auspicious number. Originally, he'd planned that the moment Jin Li opened her eyes to look at them, he'd have the whole Moluo Clan imitate a certain hotpot chain[2] and sing her the birthday song. He was sure that scene would be lively. But then, it occurred to him that Jin Li could be a socially anxious introvert like him, so he vetoed the idea.

Jin Li murmured to herself, "Five... two... one..."

She understood something. Rising slightly on tiptoe, she leaned in without a moment’s hesitation and kissed him. Her touch was as fleeting as a dragonfly skimming water.

Qi Yuan froze as the soft sensation vanished from his lips. He gazed intently at her beautiful face. They'd only just met, and he'd already been kissed by force? Had it been any other woman, he'd never have permitted it. But this was Jin Li, his online friend, the mother of his daughter. He would let it slide for now.

If there hadn't been so many people around, he'd definitely have kissed her back. Otherwise, he'd be at too much of a loss. He also concluded that she did it because his gift was simply that moving. If those devoted simps back on the Blue Planet could learn from this, they'd have their goddesses eating out of their hands.

He then asked, "Well, would you like to end them to claim your merits?"

Jin Li looked at the bound crowd and remembered the times she used to communicate with Qi Yuan through the Linglong Xi Jade. Back then, she had been naive, innocent, and kind-hearted—utterly unlike the slaughtering warrior she was now.

Jin Li blushed. "I rarely kill anyone."

She felt fortunate she'd dressed up a little today.

1. In Mandarin Chinese, 521 (wǔ èr yī) sounds a lot like 我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ, meaning "I love you") or 我愿意 (wǒ yuàn yì, meaning "I do" or "I'm willing") ☜

2. Reference to HDL smirk ☜