After Provoking the Mad Beautiful Deity - Chapter 51

Hong Chen woke up. She first looked toward the Empress, then touched her own arm. Her face was deathly pale, but upon seeing the Empress, she smiled, revealing her small, white teeth.

Hong Chen leaned over the edge of her small bed and reached out her hands toward the Empress. “Mother, I want to fly.”

“Fly, fly,” the Empress whispered. She was in exceptional agony, her face unable to hide her guilt. Hong Chen squeezed toward her and hugged her neck.

The child’s body was so soft. Nestling against the person she trusted, she smiled softly. She seemed very tired and drifted back to sleep. This time, however, her brows were relaxed. As she lay down, her chubby little legs rested over the railing of the bed, a sight that was both pitiful and amusing. The Empress, as if coming to her senses, gently took her legs down and tucked them back under the covers.

The Empress dared not blink, fearing that if she closed her eyes, Hong Chen would vanish again.

As an immortal, the Empress could abstain from food and sleep, watching over Hong Chen every second. However, because Hong Chen had become a mortal, she required food and rest daily.

When she saw Chu Rou again, Chu Rou had already become a Protector of the Demon Realm. In a hundred years, she had established a firm foothold there. When she saw Hong Chen, the child was terrified of her.

Chu Rou wore black robes embroidered with ten thousand demons. Hong Chen trembled with fear. Realizing her clothes had frightened the child, Chu Rou immediately changed into a smoke-blue dress before approaching again.

The Empress said, “She is shy. It is enough for you just to see her.”

Chu Rou’s gaze softened. “What does she like?”

“She likes sweets,” the Empress replied.

“Sweets? She is an immortal, should she not abstain from food?” Chu Rou was surprised.

The Empress lied: “There is no need. All children like such things.”

Having never raised a child, Chu Rou believed her and nodded. “I will bring you some delicious food, alright?”

Hong Chen hid behind the Empress, peeking out with her pale little face. She was no longer the chubby-faced child of before. She tilted her head to study Chu Rou but refused to take a single step forward.

Despite Chu Rou’s coaxing, Hong Chen felt moved and looked at the Empress. “Mother, come with us.”

The Empress refused, saying, “Next time. It is late; it is time to go back.”

Chu Rou was disappointed but did not persist. “Next time, I will bring it to you.”

The Empress remained silent. She picked up Hong Chen and left. Hong Chen looked back at the woman in the smoke-blue dress, leaning her head on the Empress’s shoulder. “Mother, who was that?”

“A friend of mother’s.”

Life in the Heavenly Palace was dull. The Empress sought out many mortal toys to keep her company. Meanwhile, the Empress searched through medical texts. There are many ways for a mortal to enter immortality, the quickest being the consumption of immortal elixirs. But as a medicinal human, such pills were useless to Hong Chen; she had to give up that path.

The remaining shortcut was cultivation.

The Empress searched through many immortal sects and finally chose the Phoenix Clan. Among the countless immortals on Phoenix Mountain, she chose the High Immortal Yan Lai.

Yan Lai lived a simple, reclusive life. As a High Immortal, she had no disciples.

The Empress went to Phoenix Mountain personally and entered Qing Yan Peak, meeting the High Immortal who was rumored to be as cold and clear as the moon.

Seeing herself appear in the mirror, Yan Lai’s brows knit tightly. She turned to look at the sleeping person on the bed, her heart racing. She had no memory of this encounter.

In the mirror, Yan Lai was dressed in plain immortal robes. Her gaze fell on Hong Chen, and she shook her head. “I cannot take her. She has no aptitude for cultivation. I am curious why the Empress would bring a mortal to my Phoenix Mountain.”

“She is not a mortal. She is the daughter of Chong Fang and a medicinal ginseng, and her spiritual root was stripped,” the Empress said candidly.

“Why was it stripped? How old is she?”

“Because she is a medicinal human. Have you heard the rumors in the Heavens that Prince Qing Feng possesses an extraordinary root bone?” The Empress did not hide the truth about her son.

“I heard my Master mention it. What does it have to do with her?” Yan Lai clearly had no favorable impression of Hong Chen.

The Empress raised her hand, creating a barrier of light to isolate Hong Chen. She continued, “The Prince’s root bone is hers. She is an anomaly of heaven and earth, a rare medicinal human. Every part of her can be used as medicine; even a strand of hair can save a life.”

Yan Lai was skeptical. She studied the young child and sent a pulse of spiritual energy into Hong Chen’s body. She quickly withdrew her hand. “Even if the Empress tells me this much, I will not take her.”

“Yan Lai, she is a medicinal human, the best cauldron. If she cultivates into an immortal and you engage in dual cultivation, your power will soar,” the Empress said urgently. “You have no disciples and live alone. She has parents yet is as good as orphaned. Take her out of pity.”

Yan Lai shook her head. “I am not a charitable person. Please leave.”

The Empress was driven out of Qing Yan Peak.

Back at the Ninth Heaven, Hong Chen was exhausted and fell asleep immediately. The Empress, heavy-hearted, leaned against the small bed and watched the sleeping child with downcast eyes.

Outside the mirror, Yan Lai felt guilt. She should not have made things difficult for the Empress. Seeing that Hong Chen was still asleep, she reached out and took her wrist.

In the mirror, the Empress found Yan Lai again, offering ten thousand years of spiritual power as the price. Even so, Yan Lai did not nod. The Empress did not lose heart, increasing the stakes time and again, but Yan Lai refused.

Until one day, when Yan Lai opened her door at dawn to practice, she saw someone sitting there.

Hong Chen was sitting cross-legged at the door holding two sticks of candied haws. One stick had seven haws; on the other, Hong Chen had eaten three, leaving four.

The moment the door opened, Yan Lai was stunned. Likewise, Hong Chen was dazed.

The two stared at each other. Hong Chen stood up, looked at the two sticks, and after a brief comparison, handed the full one to Yan Lai.

She said, “Mother went to the Demon Realm for business and told me to wait here.”

Yan Lai stared at Hong Chen for a long time, her eyes swirling with emotion. Finally, she reached out and led the child inside.

The world within the mirror came to a halt.

Yan Lai tried to push the vision forward with her magic, but it would not move. This was the Empress’s Mirror of Reverting Light; life on Qing Yan Peak had nothing to do with her memories.

Yan Lai stopped her spell and sighed softly, leaning against the bed. So the truth was this cruel. It was not intentional betrayal, but a lack of power. Powerless to resist the Flower Tribe, powerless to face reality.

What good did knowing the truth do? Should she kill the entire Flower Tribe? Follow the Empress’s example and wipe out a clan? If she did that, how would she be different from a demon?

Yet, she could not swallow this grievance. She put down the mirror and looked around. With the Empress protecting this place, she could leave for a while.

After a moment of thought, Yan Lai sent a message to the Moon Goddess. The Moon Goddess arrived gracefully, having first paid respects to the Empress.

Yan Lai sat on the couch where Hong Chen loved to climb as a child. Leaning by the window, her neck looked long and thin, her skin as pale and fragile as glass.

The Moon Goddess stepped forward. “Why did you call for me? Everything is in chaos outside.”

“I thought of seeking San Meng, but to avoid you overthinking, I called for you,” Yan Lai smiled freely and stood up straight. “The Demon Lord is injured and there is no medicine to cure her; she must heal herself. Watch over her for me. I have something to do. If I fail, I will call San Meng.”

Hearing this, the Moon Goddess’s lip twitched. It was a blatant threat. Yan Lai had changed; she had become quite unreasonable. But faced with such a threat, she could only accept.

“Go quickly. You really are bold, threatening people so righteously. By the way, I saw that Si Ming has been punished and sent to guard the South Heaven Gate. She might help you when you leave.”

“Guarding the gate?” Yan Lai found it hard to believe. “Will she be restored to her position?”

The Moon Goddess shook her head. “I do not know. Just go. Since she is on duty, you will have an easier time. Or, do you want to take the Demon Lord with you?”

“Leave her here. Right under the Heavenly Emperor’s nose is the safest place.” Yan Lai turned and left.

She flew to the South Heaven Gate and indeed saw Si Ming standing there, her back hunched and looking dispirited.

Yan Lai approached. Si Ming jumped in fright, clutching her chest. Yan Lai asked, “Can I pass?”

“Go quickly, go quickly! He went to the latrine.” Si Ming urged her on. There were two guards on duty, but fortunately, the other was a lazy fellow who used any excuse to slack off.

Yan Lai paused to ask, “Will you be restored as Si Ming?”

“Yes, of course. I will not be here forever. Just go, my life is practically on the line!” Si Ming looked ready to kick her out of the gate. Lingering would be the death of her.

Yan Lai wanted to say more, but seeing Si Ming terrified out of her wits, she hurried away.

Once outside the South Heaven Gate, the Qilin came flying toward her, with Yu Qi sitting on its back holding a sword.

Yan Lai leaped onto the Qilin’s back. Yu Qi asked anxiously, “Where is the Demon Lord?”

“Asleep. I am going to the Flower Tribe. Do you want to come?” Yan Lai stated her purpose. Xuan Jing had not been in the main hall earlier, so he must not have come.

Since he was not there, she would find him. From the mirror, it was clear that Xuan Jing was involved in the bone-swapping.

Yu Qi’s dark eyes suddenly lit up. “Yes.”

Yan Lai said no more, and the Qilin flew toward the Hundred Flower Mountain.

The three landed directly on the palace roof. Yan Lai destroyed the main hall of the Flower Tribe with a single palm strike. The building collapsed, debris flying everywhere, as several people flew out from the ruins.

Yan Lai landed gracefully. She was cold and elegant, lacking the usual arrogance of a conqueror, yet her aura was overwhelming. When Xuan Jing saw her, his heart sank. Without a word, Yan Lai waved her sleeve, and a fierce fire began to burn everything. The collapsed palace was engulfed in a sea of flames.

Xuan Jing did not hesitate; he turned to run. Yan Lai followed, and Yu Qi cut off his path with her sword.

Yan Lai said, “Do not kill the others. Only kill Xuan Jing.”

Yu Qi was reluctant; Xuan Jing was not the only one who had bullied her. Yan Lai ignored her thoughts. Killing Xuan Jing was as easy as crushing an ant. Xuan Jing had not even reached the rank of High Immortal; his previous attack on Hong Chen was only successful because she was heavily injured and he had several elders with him.

Yan Lai trapped Xuan Jing with a spell. The Flower Tribe elders rushed forward, but Yan Lai ignored them. “I only kill Xuan Jing. If you interfere, do not blame me for being heartless.”

Xuan Jing watched the High Immortal approach and danced with anxiety. “Yan Lai, why are you killing me?”

“You were a participant in the theft of the root bone ten thousand years ago.” Yan Lai stopped ten paces away. Her robes fluttered, her skin as white as porcelain, and her eyes were cold. She looked thin and somewhat frail.

Even so, Xuan Jing dared not be careless. “It has nothing to do with me! That was the Heavenly Emperor’s doing. I only knew about it; I did not participate.”

“To know is also a crime.” Yan Lai cast a spell, a flame floating in her palm—the Phoenix Fire, which burns all filth.

Xuan Jing panicked, his face twitching. He kept explaining, but Yan Lai remained unmoved.

Knowing is a crime. How overbearing.

Xuan Jing was surrounded by a ring of fire. The other elders watched but dared not save him. Xuan Jing screamed, repeatedly crying that it had nothing to do with him.

Finally, an elder could not bear it and tried to rescue him, but before he could get near the fire, he was repelled and slammed into the ground, coughing up blood.

Yan Lai sneered. “You could cultivate for another ten thousand years and still make no progress.”

The insult was deep. The elders felt the shame. After a glance at each other, half attacked Yan Lai while the other half tried to save Xuan Jing.

They moved separately, thinking that even if they could not hurt Yan Lai, they could save Xuan Jing.

The result was unexpected. They were blown back as soon as they touched the fire ring, and those who moved toward Yan Lai were sent flying with a single strike before they even reached her.

Forget saving him; they could not even get close. At this moment, the gap between an Immortal Lord and a High Immortal was clear.

Yan Lai stood still, her face cold and her eyes seeing through everything. Every movement carried an indescribable dominance. She rarely saw people, so they had forgotten her true nature.

As they failed again and again, Xuan Jing’s screams echoed throughout the Hundred Flower Mountain. Gradually, his voice weakened until he turned into a pile of ash.

Gone. His soul was scattered; there would be no chance for reincarnation.

The elders looked at each other in shock. How cruel Yan Lai was, killing their leader before their eyes and denying him even a next life.

It was a massive humiliation. They scrambled up and joined forces to set a barrier to trap Yan Lai.

Yan Lai smiled with contempt. With a wave of her sleeve, she shattered their barrier. “You may seek revenge, but think carefully: even with the strength of your entire tribe, could you kill me? Instead of making a useless sacrifice, improve your own cultivation. If I am still alive one day, come for your revenge. Today, I promised not to kill you, so I will not act again. But the next time we meet, I will show no mercy.”

“I killed Xuan Jing because he participated in the theft of a root bone ten thousand years ago. To practice such a forbidden art is a violation of heavenly law. Letting him live until today was a blessing.”

With that, she turned and left the mountain, followed by Yu Qi and the Qilin.

The people of the Flower Tribe gnashed their teeth, watching the person who killed their leader leave so arrogantly.

The three flew into the air. Yan Lai instructed the Qilin, “Take Yu Qi to the Demon Realm and tell the Young Lords to take good care of her. Wait for the Demon Lord to return.”

The Qilin asked worriedly, “When will she return?”

“She will return when she wakes up.” Yan Lai’s tone was uncertain. She added one more instruction: “Yu Qi must not leave the Demon Realm. Instead of wandering outside, she should cultivate to improve her strength.”

Yu Qi, surprisingly, did not argue and agreed to return to the Demon Realm.

The three parted ways. Yan Lai returned to the Ninth Heaven, where Si Ming was still on duty alone.

Yan Lai approached. Si Ming said with a look of despair, “He said his stomach hurt. He has been gone for about half an hour.”

Yan Lai could not help but laugh. “Your colleague is quite interesting. When you are not on duty, come find me at the Empress’s palace.”

“Hmm? What are you doing there?” Si Ming’s interest was piqued. “Are you and the Empress involved?”

On the day of the chaos in the hall, the Empress had not interfered from start to finish, not even when her own son’s bone was stripped.

Yan Lai glanced at her. Si Ming laughed awkwardly in fear. Yan Lai asked, “How many mortal storybooks have you read?”

“Quite a lot. You know those people down there rely on this for a living; they write very diligently. I saw one person who writes to eat, working hard day and night. I am thinking when she dies, I will give her a better fate,” Si Ming praised.

Yan Lai looked down and teased, “Why do you not go down to the mortal realm and find her? Urge her to write more so you two can live a beautiful life together.”

“Love between an immortal and a mortal is a violation of heavenly law; it is a death sentence.” Si Ming touched her neck in fear. “It is even scarier than love between an immortal and a demon.”

After speaking, Si Ming pushed Yan Lai inward. “They are coming, they are coming!”

The lazy colleague was back.

Yan Lai was pushed into a stumble and quickly left before the other guard arrived.

Avoiding the heavenly soldiers, she returned silently to the Empress’s palace and found Hong Chen’s room.

Hong Chen was awake, leaning against a pillow. Her face was very pale, her long hair was loose, and she was smiling cutely. The Moon Goddess stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at her.

She heard Hong Chen say, “You are so obsessed with San Meng that you do not even care about lying. Are you not afraid the Old Man of the Moon’s red string will expose your lies?”

The Moon Goddess retorted, “And you are so obsessed with Yan Lai, yet she went and got married anyway.”