Chapter Text
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The apparent tranquility of the Demon Realm's central grounds has suddenly been broken by booming laughter. And not one of victory, but one of overwhelming fun.
Winds of the valley carried this eardrum violation from the Heavenly Demon Palace in its very centre, all the way to the Realm's outskirts. Members of the Mobei Clan from the Far North were checking if the glacier-carved walls of their homes hadn't cracked. All East and West alike deserted from their curious little creatures—usually swarming the woods, but now all hiding in their burrows.
Fortunately, the Southern Territories were safer; with such a stuffy and still atmosphere, there was not enough air circulation to deliver even such a shameless display of amusement.
Nonetheless, on this afternoon, the Grand Palace emitted shockwaves of unexpected glee from the Underground Western Wing. That is, the private section of the dungeons assigned to no one else but the infamous tyrant, the former Demon Emperor Tianlang-jun; the Old Palace, which had inevitably collapsed back in the days. Luo Binghe (the current ruler) eventually allowed him to stay, on condition that he doesn't bother him.
Immediate concern arose within one specific resident of the royal residence, which had been torn out of its train of thought during dust sweeping duty.
"Junshang?" Zhuzhi-lang arrived knocking on the door to its uncle's chambers in a split second. Its broom, thrown out abandoned, probably hasn't even hit the floor yet. "Is everything alright?"
The following response consisted mainly of more chuckles, though now less blatant and more like those of an over-excited teenage girl.
Zhuzhi-lang, now having gone from worried to confused, gently pushed the gilded ebony doors ajar, only to reveal Tianlang-jun himself, on his regal bed clad in crimson silk and beast pelts, giggling in mischief and glee. He was holding a gigantic, ancient chronicle book over his head while laying on his back and squirming in joyful delight.
"...is this one interrupting something?" The young snake demon asked carefully, quite crestfallen, to say the least. Maybe this was some sort of daily joy affirmation ritual that it has disturbed just now? Junshang had many ideas like these, after all; he claimed to pick them up from "the human youngsters these days".
Tianlang-jun finally began to cease his fit of giggles, and turned onto his stomach to face his nephew. "No no nonono- hah- stop- stop staring like a hooker at a lamp post!" He scolded, placing the leather-upholstered volume flat out for show. "Your uncle has found quite the delightful piece of story. Just come see how ridiculous the consort of your grandmother's younger brother has been!"
Pretending to understand more than a mere half of these words, Zhuzhi-lang approached, not the slightest bit comforted. If this was something that Junshang has fished out from the dungeons—or worse, from under his bed—then this was no ordinary trinket.
It could've been cursed.
Or sentient.
Tianlang-jun has owned sentient (and biting) objects before.
However, this one thankfully seemed inanimated, laying obediently still right where it was placed.
"Does Snekphew know what exactly this is?" Zhuzhi-lang shook its head in denial. Tianlang-jun almost scoffed, though he was not surprised. "This, my dear uneducated relative, is the one and only ancestral chronicle of our venerable lineage!"
This didn't seem to strike it in the snake's head. So, the Ex-Demon Sovereign tried enclosing further.
"The splendid, sublime history of our rise to glory and reign of the Demonic, Human, and even Heavenly Realm alike! The famous "Grand Record of Miscellaneous Deeds of the Heaven-banished!" Does Snakephew comprehend?"
Seemingly not in the slightest. It shook its head again.
Tianlang-jun sighed in exasperation, disappointed that his ornate language was not appreciated. "No matter." He waved his hand in dismissal, and shut the book unceremoniously to present the cover; black leather decorated with pure gold, in patterns of wings and talons of mighty beasts that fell from Heaven alongside Heavenly Demons.
"But may snekphew just wait to see what my old man, his father, and all the fathers before, have scribbled here." Despite the earlier displeasure, the retired ruler was quick to return to mischief and cheer. "And more importantly, what this uncle of yours is adding from himself. Because sincerely, only I seem to display a talent for writing and storytelling in this family." Of course, every opportunity to boast is a good one.
Skipping through the old text transcribed onto ancient parchment, Tianlang-jun smirked more and more the closer he got to his own chapters. "Snekphew" Zhuzhi-lang let out a nervous hiss.
And there, revealed itself quite the lavish creation; lines of peerless calligraphy, cast upon these unworthy pages with flawless work of a vulture's quill dipped in pink, glittery ink, and adorned by stickers and doodles.
Truly deserving to be called the pride and joy of the has-been conqueror of all Three Realms.
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