After Provoking the Mad Beautiful Deity - Chapter 35

“Seeing you makes it much better.”

Hongchen ran all over the mountainside, startling countless cultivators. Seeing such a stunning woman, they all eagerly helped her search for stray dogs.

There weren’t many dogs, but wild chickens and beasts were plenty, along with several beautiful deer, all of which were captured. Hongchen wasn’t one to take something for nothing; once she had the animals, she handed out medicine from the Demon Healers as thanks.

The celestial attendants brought cages and locked the beasts inside. Qilin watched them curiously. “Demon Lord, are you planning a barbecue?”

“I’m not eating them. I’m going to give them the aphrodisiacs to test the potency.” Hongchen stood with her hands on her hips, head held high. She turned to an attendant and said, “Bring some water.”

Medicine needed water to be swallowed properly; it would be a waste if they coughed the pills back up. Qilin squatted by a cage and reached in with a paw to probe, only to be smacked hard by a monkey. She hissed in pain, nursing her paw.

“Demon Lord! Feed it to that monkey! Feed it two pills make its body explode!” Qilin snapped.

Hongchen took the water from the attendant. “Will they really explode if they eat too much?”

Qilin nodded fervently. “Think about fireworks. If you pack too many together, don’t they go bang? It’s the same principle.”

Hongchen pursed her lips. Qilin leaned in, took a sip of the water, and asked, “What are you thinking about, Master?”

“I’m wondering… if High Goddess Yanlai eats too much, will she explode too?” Hongchen was deeply skeptical. With a body as cold as ice like Yanlai’s, even five or six pills probably wouldn’t make her explode.

The beasts in the cages cried out piteously. Finding the noise grating, Qilin cast a spell to silence them.

“Master, humans and beasts are different. There’s a female prisoner from the Flower Clan on the mountain; why not let her try it?”

“Is that appropriate?” Hongchen hesitated. If the woman exploded, wouldn’t that be a needless slaughter?

Qilin nodded. “It’s perfect. Her cultivation is extremely high; nothing will happen to her.”

“If her cultivation is so high, how did she end up locked here?” Hongchen poured the pills back into the bottle and tucked it into her robes to prevent it from being stolen.

Seeing her Demon Lord’s cautious, stingy behavior, Qilin wanted to laugh, but before she could speak, Hongchen grabbed her by the collar and told the attendants, “Roast the ones that can be roasted. Release the ones that can’t.”

There was a water dungeon on Phoenix Mountain, but it had been abandoned for ten thousand years and was uninhabitable. The prisoner was kept in a house guarded on all sides, further secured by Qilin’s barrier.

The location was remote—a dilapidated shack on a jagged peak. The further Hongchen walked, the more ruinous it seemed. Fortunately, the inner structure was solid. Qilin lifted the barrier and they stepped inside.

The prisoner was injured; her wounds hadn’t healed, making escape impossible.

Hongchen stepped forward. The prisoner, who was meditating, opened her eyes. When she saw Hongchen, her eyes widened in shock. In the next heartbeat, she spat out a mouthful of blood.

Hongchen took two steps back and pointed at Qilin. “Did you see that? I didn’t touch her! I didn’t even move!”

Qilin found it strange too. She moved closer to investigate. “She seemed agitated. Her internal energy reversed.”

“Fine, I’ll help her out once. I don’t want her dying before she can even take the medicine.” Hongchen, feeling charitable, stepped forward to heal her.

Qilin pouted. Her Master was far too kind, saving just anyone. This woman was a lackey of that “Crap Princess,” a bully who relied on her master’s power. What was the point in saving her?

Qilin squatted in the room to stand guard, looking around idly. Half an hour later, the prisoner woke up. Hongchen didn’t look at her, busy fiddling with her medicine bottle, and thus missed the joy in the woman’s eyes.

“Demon Lord… My Lord, you’re still alive…”

Hearing the unfamiliar voice, Hongchen instinctively gripped her bottle tight. She tilted her head toward the prisoner. “Do we know each other?”

“It is I, Yuqi! Your flower spirit!” Yuqi scrambled off the bed and knelt, kowtowing frantically. “After the Great War, I thought you were dead. I was heartbroken. I didn’t expect to be ambushed by the Flower Clan and controlled by them. They said you were gone; I almost went to the afterlife to find you!”

Qilin looked at Yuqi with total disdain. “But you didn’t die, did you?”

Yuqi remained prostrate, sobbing so hard she could barely get a full sentence out. Hongchen didn’t care much for her words; she was mostly worried that if they were old acquaintances, how could she use her as a test subject? It felt unfriendly to meet someone after a long time and immediately force them to eat aphrodisiacs.

After a long silence, Hongchen said dryly, “We don’t know each other. You can’t just invent a backstory because you’re afraid of the medicine. I really don’t know you. Do you know my mother? People say I look a lot like her.”

Quick, say you have the wrong person! Say it!

Yuqi just shook her head and continued to cry.

Hongchen felt a surge of irritation. She was almost tempted to just grab the woman’s chin and pour the medicine down her throat, but she couldn’t bring herself to be that dishonest. She turned to Qilin. “Let’s go back and find the monkey. This one had a cultivation backlash; her brain is fried.”

Qilin shook her head. “Master, do you just forget everyone you save? She’s crying so hard; she must be your subordinate. But she said you died? When were you ever injured?”

Hongchen had no memory of it. Yuqi climbed to her feet and walked over, wiping her tears away. “Master, I would rather die than leave you again.”

Qilin frowned. She felt like someone was trying to steal her spot as the favorite, and this new person had higher cultivation than her. No, no, this won’t do.

Qilin spread her arms to block the prisoner from getting closer. “Stay back! With your level of cultivation, you’re just a burden to the Demon Lord.”

Yuqi wiped her eyes and sneered at Qilin. “You’re just a mount. Your cultivation is lower than mine. If anyone is a burden, it’s you!”

“I’m a mount! I’m fast!” Qilin barked, hands on her hips.

Yuqi, having finally found her Lord, refused to back down. “Is that so? But I see you’re very obedient to Yanlai. You’re a traitor!”

“A traitor? How am I a traitor?” Qilin was baffled. She pointed at herself and asked Hongchen, “Am I a traitor?”

“Aren’t you? You take orders from Phoenix Mountain, but the people here killed the Demon Lord’s mother! The Demon Lord shares an irreconcilable blood feud with Phoenix Mountain!” Yuqi was flushed with rage, looking as if she wanted to strangle the “traitorous” Qilin.

Hongchen’s head felt like it was going to explode. This person was bizarre—starting off with talk of a “slaughtered mother.” She was probably just trying to sow discord.

Fine, I’ll find someone else to test.

Hongchen didn’t want to talk anymore. She grabbed Qilin and ran, setting a barrier behind them as they left. Qilin stopped walking once they were outside. “Master, don’t you find this strange?”

“It’s very strange. I’ll deal with it when I have time. Hurry back to that monkey.” To Hongchen, the monkey was more important. The prisoner was locked up, but the monkey might escape!

They rushed back to the cages, but the beasts were gone. The cages were empty. Hongchen stomped her feet in frustration. “Look at what you’ve done!”

Qilin scratched her head, stomping her feet as well. “Master, I’ll go catch you another monkey! Or… I could try it for you?”

“No. Where would I find a male Qilin for you?” Hongchen refused.

Qilin jumped. “It’s ‘Stallion,’ not ‘Male’! I’m not a wild chicken; you don’t call us ‘Roosters’ and ‘Hens’!”

Hongchen ignored her. Looking up, she saw a streak of light in the clouds. The Empress was gone. Tsk tsk, they talked for so long.

It had been ages and she still hadn’t successfully tested the medicine, missing her chance to criticize the Empress. Thinking of this, she glared at Qilin again and walked toward the mountainside with her medicine bottle. Finding animals required finding a pair…

This is so much trouble.

Hongchen walked down the mountain with Qilin trailing behind. Qilin was working extra hard now; after years of being lazy, a high-cultivation rival had appeared to challenge her status.

Because of the earlier commotion, the mountain beasts were hiding. The spirit animals of Phoenix Mountain, having breathed celestial air for years, were far smarter than mortal beasts. After searching for a while, they only caught one “idiot” chicken. Hongchen was unimpressed and decided it was better to just roast it.

Qilin, who practiced fire magic, took the chicken and started cooking. Soon, it was a roast chicken, and Hongchen carried it back to the hall.

Yanlai had locked herself in her quarters, refusing to see anyone. Hongchen knocked on the door with the roast chicken, but there was no response. She tore off a chicken leg and sat outside the door to eat. Between bites, she called out to the person inside.

“Did the Empress upset you? If you ask me, there’s no need to be so conflicted. You’re living a good life; who in the four realms dares to disrespect you? Wherever you go, people call you High Goddess Yanlai. You’re a Goddess! Getting hung up on small things is petty. Look at me—I eat, drink, and play. What am I missing?”

“Wait, I am missing one thing. I’m missing Dual Cultivation with you.” Hongchen talked to the door, answering her own questions.

Yanlai didn’t open the door. Hongchen tore off the other leg and continued. “Think about it. You’re the head of a mountain and a clan leader. You should think about big things! Since so many of your Phoenix clan died, shouldn’t you look elsewhere to see if any survived?”

“Let’s forget about the Empress. Let’s go find more Phoenixes! Once we find them, we can help them get married and grow your clan again!”

“In the whole of Phoenix Mountain, you are the only phoenix left. It is truly piteous. Besides, the two of us cannot give birth to a phoenix. Why is it that we cannot produce a phoenix, I wonder?”

Hongchen spoke to herself, continuing for who knows how long, until the entire chicken was reduced to a pile of bones.

She wiped her mouth, stood up, and frowned. “If you don’t open the door, I am leaving.”

No movement. The door remained shut.

Hongchen felt discouraged and shouted once more, “I am really leaving now!”

She took a step with her right foot, watching the hall door out of the corner of her eye. There was no reaction.

Refusing to give up, she called out again, “I am going back to the Demon Realm!”

As she stepped out with her left foot, the door suddenly swung open. She immediately pulled her foot back and looked at the haggard figure before her with a grin. “Are you unhappy?”

Yanlai did not answer. Since Hongchen was a chatterbox, she answered for her. “It is fine if you are unhappy; I will coax you. Let me think. When Little Fifth and the others are angry, I choose artifacts for them. Since you are angry, how about we do Dual Cultivation?”

Yanlai ignored the remark, stepping aside to grant her entry to the hall. Hongchen crossed the threshold eagerly, looking left and right with a clicking tongue. “Living here all alone, do you not find it dull?”

“You are truly noisy.” Yanlai was utterly helpless. Not long after she had sat down, she had heard that rhythmic mumbling outside, repeating the same question over and over, eight hundred times.

Hongchen looked at her with feigned disdain. “High Goddess, how did you talk about love and passion in the past? You have a bit of a problem in the emotional department.”

“What problem?”

“You are hesitant and timid, not proactive enough.”

Yanlai glanced at her. “And how should I be proactive? By taking the lead in Dual Cultivation with you?”

Hongchen was just about to nod when she saw the light in Yanlai’s eyes grow dim. She immediately composed herself. “Let us just sleep then.”

“I am not sleepy. I am going to check on High Immortal Sanmeng’s injuries.” Yanlai reached out and rubbed Hongchen’s head, a rare gesture of affection. “You are tired; rest on your own.”

Hongchen frowned. “Are you petting a child?”

“Even a child is smarter than you,” Yanlai said with a gentle smile.

Hongchen felt a flicker of unease. “Do you have someone else out there?”

“I do,” Yanlai admitted without hesitation.

Hongchen felt as if she had been struck by lightning. “Who?”

Yanlai said, “You.”

“Oh, so it is me.” Hongchen patted her chest in relief. Before her, Yanlai remained as composed and unshakable as a deep, still well.

Hongchen looked up. Yanlai turned slightly, showing only her profile. Under the light of the Night Pearls, the lines of her jaw were perfect, flawless, and exquisite. Staring at that face of white jade, Hongchen felt the white silk veil drop over her eyes once more.

Damn that Heart-Cleansing Incantation.

Yanlai had intended to leave, but seeing the incantation trigger again, she couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. Frustrated, Hongchen brushed the veil aside. “You are a very dull person.”

Yanlai ignored her and walked away at a leisurely pace. Hongchen let out a small cry. “So your mood is better now?”

“Seeing you makes it much better.” Yanlai’s lips curled into a faint smile as she flicked her sleeve, looking as elegant and dignified as ever.

Hongchen didn’t understand. “Why does seeing me make it better?”

Yanlai sighed. “You truly are a stupid one.”

Hongchen was bewildered. “How am I stupid?”

Yanlai repeated, “Very, very stupid.”

Hongchen huffed in anger, but Yanlai simply gave a faint laugh and walked off. Hongchen turned around and went to sleep. She was too exhausted.

Sanmeng had nearly failed to return after being discovered by the Empress. Hongchen had stepped in to help heal her, and Yanlai had brought over some spiritual pills.

When Sanmeng finally woke, someone was standing before her. She opened her eyes, reclining lazily on the couch. “You have come.”

“The Empress came. In the future, do not enter her dreams again.” Yanlai turned to look at the person on the bed, her gaze as cool and steady as moonlight.

Sanmeng countered mockingly, “High Goddess Yanlai, do you not wish to know the events of the past?”

“I do, but the Empress’s perspective does not represent the whole truth. I must break the seal on my own body.” Yanlai had suddenly become calm and resolute.

Sanmeng was surprised. “What benefit did the Empress give you?”

“Why do you ask that?”

“Without a benefit, how could you let this go?”

“You have also heard of Liuguang.”

“Liuguang? What of it?”

“I am a person who came from the Liuguang Array.”

Sanmeng was baffled. She scrambled into a sitting position, her eyes fixed on Yanlai. Yanlai remained steady. “I am a person who walked out of the Liuguang Array. I have died once before.”

“Someone activated Liuguang, returned to the past, and brought you out from the moment before your death,” Sanmeng whispered to herself, her body trembling with a cold numbness. “That is a forbidden art. It must trigger a backlash. Yet, no one knew that you… that you had died.”

Yanlai had died. How? Where? It was unknown.

A chill ran down Sanmeng’s spine. Looking back at the past, she realized her friend had died once, and she hadn’t known a thing.

“The fact that you can live here peacefully means that after your death, your soul was scattered, leaving nothing behind in heaven or earth.”

Only when a person is completely gone, with nothing remaining, can a person from the past replace them. This proved that Yanlai had suffered a cataclysmic disaster. The perpetrator had been so cruel and ruthless that they hadn’t even left a sliver of her divine sense behind.

“This is all I know. Perhaps you saw me die after you fell into a demonic state, and now you have forgotten it.”

“Perhaps… perhaps…” Sanmeng was speechless. Her dear friend had been dead for nearly ten thousand years, and she had known nothing. She asked, “If someone were to sacrifice to Liuguang again to return to the past and change history, would today’s situation change?”

“You want to go back to the time before the Great War to find out what happened?” Yanlai asked solemnly.

Sanmeng shook her head. “No. I want to go back to before Prince Qingfeng stole the immortal root. Hongyan was born with a water-type root, which she later lost. A-Rou gave her all her spiritual power and roots before she died, which created the Demon Lord Hongyan we know. What if we return to before all of that? Back when the Emperor was merely a minor prince.”

If they went back before the first tragedy, everything that followed would change. Hongyan would be an Immortal, practicing water-style arts. Even if A-Rou died, Hongyan would not be tainted by demonic energy.

The root would be changed, and a whole series of events would be rewritten. Sanmeng looked at Yanlai urgently, hoping for an affirmative answer.