After Provoking the Mad Beautiful Deity - Chapter 33.1

“Not sleeping in the middle of the night, waiting for me to kiss you?”

The grievances between the Immortal and Demon clans trace back over a hundred thousand years. The passage of time and shifting tides have made it impossible for members of either side to even stand together, let alone accept them as lovers.

Hongchen walked down the mountain in a daze. Once at the base, the cold wind nipped at her, snapping her back to reality. “I could issue a decree forbidding demons from harassing lovers from the two realms. But the Immortals would still pursue them relentlessly, which wouldn’t be fair to my people. Forget it, we’ll take it one step at a time. I’ll summon the Young Lords.”

Yanlai smiled faintly; the Demon Lord truly was interesting.

The two found a patch of grass to sit on. Hongchen lazily tried to lean against Yanlai. In the bright light of day with the sun hanging high, Hongchen was indifferent to appearances, but Yanlai valued her dignity and refused to let her lean. As they pulled back and forth at one another, Yanguang descended from the clouds. From above, he had seen his Master tugging away while his “Master’s Wife” looked as if she were resisting but secretly enjoying it.

Tsk tsk, what a lecher.

Yanguang intentionally made a bit of noise before jumping down. “Master. Master’s Wife.”

“Little Fifth, you’ve come. Sit.” Hongchen straightened up, shifting into the persona of a stern teacher. “I have important matters to command of you.”

Her dead-serious expression made Yanlai laugh. Accustomed to Hongchen’s usual teasing and temper, seeing her act with such solemn gravity made her look like a child pretending to be an adult—an old soul in a young body.

Hongchen said, “There is a major matter. Let me ask you: are there many lovers shared between Immortals and Demons?”

“There are. Only demons who have lost their minds would fall for Immortal cultivators,” Yanguang replied.

Hongchen nodded. “Issue a demonic decree: any lovers who truly love each other across the two realms may walk freely within the Demon Realm. No demon shall harass them. If the Immortals cause trouble, that is their business, but the Demon Realm shall act with great righteousness.”

Yanguang rolled his eyes and stole a glance at Yanlai. She was cold and elegant, clearly an Immortal; he figured his Master was simply paving her own way. He accepted the decree.

Once the business was done, Hongchen waved him off. “You may go now.”

“Master summoned me so urgently just for this?” Yanguang found it hard to believe his Master had suddenly become such a busybody.

Hongchen replied, “Just for this. I am very busy.”

Yanguang was skeptical. “Busy with what?”

“Busy…” Hongchen couldn’t find an answer. She couldn’t very well say she was wandering around with Yanlai, so after a moment of thought, she blurted out, “I’m taking your Master’s Wife to see a doctor. She isn’t feeling well.”

Yanlai: “…” Where exactly do I feel unwell?

The excuse was so poor that neither Yanlai nor Yanguang believed it. “She looks perfectly fine to me. What’s wrong?”

“She… she… she doesn’t remember things from the past. I am taking her to find a doctor who can cure her.” Hongchen racked her brain until she found a suitable reason, adding, “There are many medical masters among the Immortal sects. We are very busy.”

Yanguang thought it over and decided it sounded plausible. He recommended, “The Merfolk of the East Sea are known for their skilled healers. You might try there.”

Merfolk? Hongchen’s eyes lit up. That “Stupid Prince” was so infatuated with a mermaid he hadn’t even returned to the palace. She nodded. “Good. I know. I’ll go right now.”

Only then did Yanguang depart, willing to return and manage affairs on Hongchen’s behalf. Hongchen turned to Yanlai. “Do you want to find your memories?”

“I do.” “Let’s go. To the East Sea.” “Alright.”

Yanlai had not left her mountain for ten thousand years. The moment she left the vicinity of Phoenix Mountain, she got lost. Fortunately, Qilin was there to lead the way.

The two stopped at the coast. Waves rolled across the boundless sea, crashing against the shore. Standing at the water’s edge, Hongchen accidentally got her shoes and socks soaked.

Hongchen was displeased, but then she saw Yanlai strike the waves with her palm. The seawater surged to both sides, suddenly revealing a path through the depths. Yanlai led the way with Hongchen following, while Qilin stayed on the shore. Qilin’s cultivation was low, and entering the sea would be dangerous for her.

Beneath the ocean, coral and seaweed swayed. Fish and shrimp darted past. Hongchen reached out to catch one, but Yanlai warned, “Are you thinking of eating fish again?”

“I don’t want to eat fish; I want to eat you. Will you let me?” Hongchen followed lazily behind Yanlai. This time, Yanlai wisely chose not to respond.

After about half an hour, they reached the Crystal Palace. Yanlai presented her calling card from Phoenix Mountain. Upon seeing it, the guard’s expression immediately became respectful.

“So it is High Goddess Yanlai. This way, please.”

Yanlai nodded and led Hongchen into the palace. Inside the great hall, the Night Pearls were even brighter than those on land. Hongchen was mesmerized. “How are you Immortals so rich? I seem to be very poor.”

Whether it was Phoenix Mountain, the Ninth Heaven, or this Crystal Palace, Night Pearls were displayed as if they cost nothing. In her own Demon Palace, she had to be stingy just to put up a few.

The seabed was different from the surface; it was dark and required more illumination. As they took their seats, the soft, bright light bathed them. Hongchen looked somewhat languid while Yanlai sat poised. Their temperaments were strikingly different.

After a short wait, the Patriarch of the Merfolk hurried in. Yanlai rose to greet him, and the Patriarch, surprised, quickly returned the gesture. “High Goddess.”

Hongchen remained seated until a force pulled her up, forcing her to bow. She glared at Yanlai. Yanlai pursed her lips and said, “This is my disciple, Yanchen.”

Hongchen was forced to salute the Patriarch. He smiled, stroking his beard. “Please, both of you, be seated.”

“The High Goddess has not left her mountain in ten thousand years. Your visit to the East Sea brings great honor to our house,” the Patriarch praised warmly.

Yanlai exchanged a few pleasantries before stating her purpose: she was looking for a healer.

“A healer? Is the High Goddess injured? My wife is well-versed in medicine. Why don’t the two of you follow me?” The Patriarch was very accommodating.

As they moved toward the inner palace, the Patriarch spoke of the Great War of ten thousand years ago. He had been young then and had not participated; by the time he received the news, his father and brothers had all perished at the hands of Hongyan.

Hongchen had heard such tales too many times. She picked at her ear, wanting to argue, but remembered she was there to ask a favor and refrained. The Patriarch was talkative, rambling on while Yanlai listened quietly, occasionally offering a response.

In the inner palace, the mistress of the Crystal Palace, Lady Yun, came to greet them. After the Patriarch briefly explained their visit, he departed, as he was a man.

Lady Yun invited them to sit. She did not check Yanlai’s pulse or ask questions; she simply performed a spell. A ball of light enveloped Yanlai. A moment later, Lady Yun withdrew the magic. “The High Goddess is not ill. Rather, a portion of her memory has been taken. All spells leave a trail.”

Hongchen rested her chin in her hand, listening. Yanlai asked, “Can it be restored?”

“My ability is meager. That person’s cultivation is extremely deep; someone of my limited skill cannot help you.” Lady Yun looked regretful. “With whom did the High Goddess exchange blows?”

“I don’t remember.” Yanlai shook her head. Her memory was a blank slate; she remembered everything except her past with Hongyan, and she had almost no memory of the Great War.

Hongchen asked, “Does My Lady know what kind of spell this is?”

“The Demon Race’s Wangchen (Memory-Wither),” Lady Yun said instantly. “It is not an Immortal technique. If High Goddess Yanlai wishes to pursue her past, she should go to the Demon Realm and try the Demon Lord.”

The Demon Lord was sitting right there. She blinked, finding it all a bit dull. She knew nothing about this—what on earth was a Wangchen spell? She had never even heard of it!

She cut in, “What if the Demon Lord doesn’t know either?”

Lady Yun looked first at Hongchen, then at Yanlai. “There is a Night King in the Demon Realm. I heard the current Demon Lord is quite young, but this Night King is very old; he might know. Beyond that, I cannot help. It is clear the High Goddess’s memory was stolen by a demon. However, it is strange—to steal a memory but not kill the person… it doesn’t make sense.”

The Demon Lords were notoriously bloodthirsty, especially toward those with high cultivation. Why would they spare a High Goddess? Furthermore, who in the Demon Realm could have even defeated Yanlai?

Lady Yun leaned back against her cushions and sighed. “How long has the High Goddess suffered from this memory loss?”

“Ten thousand years.”

Lady Yun pondered for a moment. “Phoenix Mountain was massacred, yet the High Goddess luckily escaped and lost her memory. The secret within can only be known once your memory is returned.”

“That’s as good as saying nothing,” Hongchen muttered. What a waste; the person her disciple recommended was just as unreliable as she was.

Yanlai stopped her and apologized to Lady Yun. “She is still young and untactful. Please forgive her.”

“How old is Yanchen?” Lady Yun didn’t mind the remark. Truly, she hadn’t been able to help, and as a healer, she felt she had failed her duty.

Yanlai’s heart skipped a beat, but Hongchen said with a grin, “Not old, not old at all. Just ten thousand and two years old.”

Lady Yun wanted to say more, but Yanlai rose to take her leave. The words Lady Yun intended to speak were swallowed back down. Forming a marriage alliance with Phoenix Mountain would have been beneficial, and Yanlai was one of the few High Goddesses left. Since Yanlai was unwilling, Lady Yun had to let the matter drop.

Lady Yun saw them out. On the way, she said, “I will research how to break the Wangchen spell. Once I have news, I will send word to Phoenix Mountain.”

“I am grateful to you, My Lady,” Yanlai thanked her.

The trip to the Crystal Palace ended quickly. By the time they emerged, night had fallen. Qilin had transformed into her human form and was squatting on the sand, playing. Seeing them come out of the sea, she immediately noticed. “Master. High Goddess.”

Qilin bounced over. “Was the trip successful?”

“It was not. They were just people who enjoyed undeserved fame,” Hongchen grumbled.

Yanlai looked at Qilin. “Do you know of the Wangchen spell?”

“Wangchen? The spell that steals memories?” Qilin scratched the back of her head. “It’s just a demon technique, nothing rare. But the spell changes according to the user’s cultivation. Master’s Wangchen and mine would be different.”

“Unfortunately, your Master doesn’t know it; she’s never even heard of it.” Yanlai stopped in her tracks. Recalling something, she grabbed Hongchen’s hand to head back to the Crystal Palace.

Hongchen was confused. “We’re going back? I’ll research it for you myself; why pin your hopes on others?”

A moment later, Lady Yun saw the strange pair of master and disciple once more. Yanlai pushed Hongchen forward without a word. Lady Yun understood her meaning and used the same spell to investigate.

This time, however, she was startled back several steps, her eyes flickering. “You are missing your soul, yet you have lived for this long?”

Hongchen fell into deep thought for a moment. Her head began to ache; she had been like this since she woke up and truly couldn’t answer. Yanlai pressed Hongchen’s hand and explained to Lady Yun, “She has been this way since she woke. I want to know if she can find her soul…”

“Impossible. Her soul cannot be found,” Lady Yun interrupted. “If a human loses an arm and that arm is ground to dust, can it ever be reattached?”

This was the worst-case scenario: the soul had been shattered and had vanished from existence.