Ren woke up alone in bed. He guessed his hunch had been wrong; Zuran wouldn't want to sleep on the same bed with him.
He looked down to see Zuran sleeping on the hard floor. Ren sighed. "He'd rather sleep there than sleep with me, huh?"
He shook his head.
———
Ren dressed up before Zuran woke up. He was lucky to find some clothes in the wardrobe of the room—a high-quality purple silk garment with a white belt and decorations.
He sat before the mirror and fixed himself up that morning, combing through his hair and tying a small section with a white ribbon, leaving the long ends flowing down his back. It blended effortless with his long hair.
Zuran later woke up and instantly sat up as soon as he saw Ren standing before him, fan resting on his chin. Ren smiled. "Good morning, hubby."
Zuran cast him an alert glare as he looked around. "What..."
"Hurry up and change into something else. Let's get going before they come in here," Ren said as he turned back to the table to pick out a piece of jewelry to place in his hair.
Zuran stood there staring at Ren for a while.
Ren stared back to meet his gaze. "What is it now?"
Zuran blinked. "You.... Master...."
"What?"
"Are you in disguise today again?"
Ren blinked. "Huh? Why?"
"Your hair... your face... you look...."
Ren blinked as he stared at himself in the mirror. He looked beautifully dressed. He figured out what Zuran was talking about—the Demon God was one who never cared about his appearance.
Even though he was a dangerously gorgeous fox demon, he never bothered to dress in something that suited him well or doll himself up. But Ren cared about how he looked nevertheless!
He smiled. "Why? Do I look pretty? Have you fallen in love with me?"
Zuran looked away. "I should go and get changed," he muttered as he left to change.
Ren smiled. "Tsk, tsk," he shook his head as he stared back into the mirror.
When they were done, Ren got out the pearl and waved his hand at the bed. A spell spread across it, and the two couple appeared, sleeping together, cuddling.
He smiled. "Thanks for your patience. And have a happy marriage." He sighed as he turned to Zuran, who was already staring at him.
Zuran was probably surprised that he didn't kill them or something.
"What? Am I that pretty? Let's get going." He stretched out his hands. "Take it, my hand."
Zuran hesitated.
"Whatever," Ren said, grabbing his hand and waving his fan. The two disappeared into purple sparkling dust that soon filled the air.
———
The Celestial Heavens were surrounded by clouds on all sides—clear and spotless clouds glowing across the sky.
Sparkling dots spread along the horizon, glimmering into light and bringing the great Heavenly Gate into view. The huge golden gate stood among the clouds, emitting glittering rays of sunlight through the atmosphere.
Over a hundred visible flying beings surrounded this gate—humans with golden wings flying near the Heavenly Gate, all dressed in golden attire. They were the guards of the heavenly gate.
The view spread deep into the heavens. Many different golden buildings came into sight. Millions of dimensions ahead, the Celestial space expanded into thousands of clouds that gave way to another dimension of the heavens—one that revealed a more profound view: The God Realm. It was filled with magnificent sights of skies, seas, lands, and more, all glittering in the golden light of godhood.
A hall came into view—a grand golden hall that rested on the clouds. Everything in this hall was made of gold or silver or the like. Inside the hall was a throne, and the Heavenly King sat upon it.
A middle-aged man in full human form sat on this celestial throne. He casually looked through a scroll in his hand while the gods watched him.
The godly ministers stood on both sides of the hall—six of the main god ministers at each end, each a true god of the heavens, twelve in total. Some were in hybrid forms, half-human and half-animal. Behind them stood other gods, all waiting for the Heavenly King to speak.
"What are your thoughts on this, Your Majesty?" the female Rabbit God asked, her snow-white ears sticking up from her head, curious.
"Yes. That Demon God has broken from his seal. He's free now, and it's said he was even roaming around the mortal realm using magic," the female Rat God in a brown garment scoffed.
"We surely can't let such a disastrous god roam the world. Heaven knows what chaos he is plotting to cause this time around. It cannot be allowed," the Ox God in red shook his head.
The Heavenly Emperor cleared his throat and sighed. "We already saw this coming. It's been a thousand years since I sealed him away. I didn't expect him to sit in there forever."
"The Demon God is rebellious and stubborn, so of course he would find a way out. And now he finally has." He sighed, looking through the scroll. "But we can't just strike like that."
"And what do you mean?" the Tiger God asked, clothed in a yellow garment.
"Let's keep an eye on him for the time being. Let's study his moves and motives. Then we can see what he's really up to and know when to strike," the Heavenly Emperor suggested.
"But what if he's playing tricks? We know that old fox to be full of deceit. Even when we fought him in the last war, he still had tricks up his sleeve," the Ox God emphasized.
"I know. That's why we have to pay close attention to him, to learn more before striking," the Heavenly Emperor sighed. "Surely, the Demon God cannot be allowed to roam the world freely for his malicious intentions, but we'll have to keep an eye on him first."
"Besides," the Heavenly Emperor added, "he has reportedly left the mortal realm and has gone back to the demon realm. So let's just watch."
The Twelve True Gods did not respond. They simply looked at each other and nodded.
"If you say so, then, Your Majesty," the Rabbit God agreed with a nod.
———
THE GOD REALM is a space in the heavens where only Gods can exist. It's the highest peak in heavens and above Lower Heaven realm.