They Are Archenemies, But They Have A Child - Chapter 18

Chapter 18: The Thought Realm

Yun Qingwu closed his eyes, forcefully swinging the magical artifact in his hand.

“Aaaahhh—”

Sounds of unwillingness, anger, and pain pierced the silence.

Meng Huang looked at Yun Qingwu in disbelief.

It was at this moment that Leng Licí leaped up, once again piercing Meng Huang’s heart with the bone sword.

Flames suddenly burst forth, transforming into a giant serpent that tightly coiled around Meng Huang.

Abundant spiritual power coursed through both their bodies.

Their spiritual power had been restored.

“Send him to the center of the sacrificial platform,” Yun Qingwu said sternly, simultaneously forming a hand seal to add a layer of divine power to the hemp net, making it even more secure.

The person in the net scattered into black mist, only to immediately re-form into human shape, unable to escape even an inch.

Leng Licí focused his gaze and swung the snake-like bone sword again, sending the man, net and all, to the center of the platform.

The moment he entered, cracks instantly appeared on the jade pillar, and vines snaked out from within, tightly trapping Meng Huang against the pillar.

Meng Huang glared at Yun Qingwu, his eyes bloodshot: “Why?! Why did you betray me again! A-Ze!!”

Yun Qingwu did not look away: “A-Huang, you shouldn’t harm the innocent for your own selfish gain. The Southern Ze Kingdom is gone. This is not the Southern Ze Kingdom.”

“How is it not!” Meng Huang’s expression was fanatical: “They are all here—Huanyu, Shimu (Master’s wife), Shifu (Master), and all the citizens—they are all here! How is it not?!”

“If it were, you wouldn’t need to go to such lengths. You forcefully keep them here, turning them into neither human nor ghost. Are you sure they are willing?”

“What do you know? You don’t understand our pain. You abandoned us so easily, and now you betray us again for this fox demon, yet you stand here asking if they are willing. Bai Ze, are you worthy of your people?”

The old scar was ripped open again by this accusation. Yun Qingwu’s eyes darkened: “I feel guilty, but that is not a reason for you to commit evil. You and I both know exactly what happened back then. The moment you chose to become a demon, what you want can never be restored.”

After speaking, he glanced at Leng Licí, who had been sitting cross-legged, healing his wounds since the confrontation.

“As for him, I will kill him, but not in this manner.”

Leng Licí remained with his eyes closed, his tone neither warm nor cold: “Opportunities won’t wait for you forever.”

Yun Qingwu averted his gaze. The fact was true, but he did not regret his choice just now. He said firmly: “I am not you, capable of using any means to achieve my ends.”

Meng Huang’s gaze fell on Leng Licí, then returned to Yun Qingwu. He suddenly burst into loud, hysterical laughter: “A-Ze… you don’t understand. You still don’t understand. Of course… you were born a noble god. How could you ever understand?”

With a bang, Meng Huang’s body suddenly exploded. Black mist immediately permeated the entire center of the array. The hanging moon was also obscured by the black mist, plunging the entire Ze Kingdom into pitch-black darkness.

“Go, A-Ze. I will make you understand.”

Li Qingyang, standing outside the array, noticed the change in the situation and immediately wanted to enter, but it was too late. The black mist dissipated, and only Meng Huang remained at the center of the array.

At this time, Meng Huang was in a deep sleep, his eyes closed.

The wind chimes beneath the corridor eaves and dome rang incessantly. The imprisoned demons gradually regained clarity from their confusion. Dan Mu, who had been standing blankly like a walking corpse, blinked in confusion, and memories surged back into her mind like a tide.

Her brow furrowed, and tears streamed down her face. She rushed towards Meng Huang, attacking him relentlessly: “Your Honor, where did you take my Your Honor?! You despicable demon, give my Your Honor back quickly!”

“Don’t waste your strength. They have entered the Thought Realm set up by Meng Huang’s soul and resentment. They can only break the situation by comprehending it themselves,” Li Qingyang said, looking at the sleeping man, a trace of worry inevitably rising in his heart.

Dan Mu paused in her movements. With tear-filled eyes, she looked back and immediately saw Xiao Dao in Li Qingyang’s arms. Her gaze narrowed, and she flew over, trying to snatch the baby: “Give the child back!”

Li Qingyang turned sideways to dodge and struck Dan Mu away with a palm.

Seeing the disparity in strength, Dan Mu tried to rally reinforcements: “Hurry up and come! There’s a stinking immortal here! If you have a grievance, now is the time to take revenge!”

The demons nearby, who had regained consciousness but found they still couldn’t leave, were already agitated. Hearing this, they immediately swarmed around.

Li Qingyang was not afraid. He waved his hand, splitting the front courtyard in two with a barrier, completely isolating the restless demons on the other side.

“Today, you are victims, and I do not intend to settle accounts with you. But if you insist on committing evil, once this situation is broken, I will not let a single one of you go.”

“Who needs your permission, stinking immortal? It’s not certain who will let whom go!” Dan Mu was utterly unconvinced, muttering curses, but she knew she couldn’t gain an advantage right now. She could only sit down where she was, attempting to repair her body first.

The situation, which was about to erupt, thus temporarily reached a balance.

…

The darkness before his eyes gradually gained a few streaks of light. Leng Licí struggled to open his eyes, feeling as if his whole body was falling apart, completely uncontrollable.

“Hey, there’s a fox here!” A little girl’s voice rang in his ear. The girl then exclaimed in surprise: “Dongxue, Dongxue, this fox has eight tails!”

Another set of footsteps approached. It was a middle-aged woman’s voice, full of familiar warmth: “It looks like it’s injured. Ye’er, let’s take it home and find a doctor to look at it!”

Dongxue? Ye’er?

!

The next moment, Leng Licí felt his body suddenly lifted off the ground.

A warning bell sounded in his heart. He finally opened his eyes. What he saw was a piece of dark blue fabric with embroidery. Silver ornaments on the clothes jingled as the body moved.

He was in someone’s arms!

No…

Leng Licí looked down at his right hand. A paw pad, red fading to black and visibly incomplete, came into view.

“…”

He had reverted to his original form.

Leng Licí began to struggle desperately, but the injuries on his body had not yet healed. This action only caused the person holding him to embrace him more tightly.

The middle-aged woman’s voice sounded again: “Don’t be afraid. We won’t hurt you. Come home with us, and I’ll treat your wounds.”

“That’s right, little fox, don’t be afraid.” The voice, still carrying a childlike tone, echoed, reaching out a hand to try and pat Leng Licí’s fox head.

Leng Licí quickly shifted, avoiding the touch.

The little girl didn’t mind, humming an unknown tune and skipping along.

Leng Licí tensed his body in defense but didn’t try to break free again. He surveyed the surroundings. What met his eyes were various small stalls shouting their wares. People came and went on the street, clearly a market. In addition to the vendors, there were various shops on both sides of the street, all primarily constructed of wood. Every shop door had a paper lantern shaped like the Bai Ze hanging on it.

It was very similar to the Ze Kingdom—the same blind eyes and ignorant hearts.

He examined the clothes of the passersby. The men all wore wide-sleeved, long robes with large front openings and wide decorative borders, with a red braided cord tied across their forehead. The women wore jackets with large front openings, fastened on the right side, paired with long skirts, adorned mainly with silver ornaments. It was also the same as the Ze Kingdom.

The last sentence Meng Huang spoke before he lost consciousness surfaced in his mind.

The answer to their current location was imminent.

This was the Southern Ze Kingdom.

More precisely, this was the Southern Ze Kingdom hidden deep within Meng Huang’s memories.

“We’re home~ We’re home~ Little fox, we’re home!” Ye’er shouted excitedly.

Leng Licí looked up, his eyes slightly narrowed. The house before him was exactly the same as the Qu family’s house.

“Ah—Ye’er, Dongxue, you’re back.” A middle-aged man of average height with refined features opened the door from inside.

The man’s eyes fell on Leng Licí, and a hint of surprise flashed in them: “What is this?”

“This is a fox I found!” Ye’er was quick to show off.

The man raised his right hand, subconsciously rubbing the edge of his left sleeve: “We are some distance from the mountains here. How could there be a fox? And this fox has eight tails, which is quite rare.”

Leng Licí stared at the man’s action, forming a guess about his identity in his heart.

“Qŭ Píng, don’t just stand there. Hurry and call Doctor Li. This fox is injured.”

The middle-aged woman named Dongxue urged, confirming Leng Licí’s guess.

Qŭ Píng, Qŭ Píng.

This family was clearly the Qu family, but their current appearances were their true ones.

Leng Licí then looked at Dongxue. If there were no accidents, this was Aunt Liu.

Only…

Leng Licí noticed the form of address between the three. Here, Qu Lin, or Qŭ Yè, did not seem to be their daughter.

If this was the Southern Ze Kingdom, then where was that Bai Ze fellow?

Leng Licí closed his eyes in frustration.

What a bother.

Doctor Li was highly efficient and arrived shortly with his medical box.

The injuries sustained in the array earlier had been mostly healed by Leng Licí’s cultivation, leaving only some gruesome-looking external wounds. Thus, although he disliked being touched, he was sensible enough not to resist again.

“A-Die, A-Niang, I’m home.” While his wounds were being treated, another person entered the main hall from the doorway.

Leng Licí observed the newcomer. It was a beautiful young woman with heroic spirit in her features. Unlike the other women, she was not wearing a long skirt but long trousers.

“Huanyu is back. How are the preparations for tomorrow’s sacrificial ceremony?” Qŭ Píng asked with concern.

Qŭ Huanyu nodded: “We have confirmed every step. There will be no problem.”

“A-Die believes in you!”

Qŭ Huanyu?

Leng Licí observed the expressions of the two. He had never seen this person in the previous Qu family, but she was clearly a member of this family. Conversely, the person Qu Wen did not exist.

Sacrificial ceremony? Another ceremony!

Leng Licí disdainfully flicked his tail. If worshipping that Bai Ze fellow was useful, how could the Southern Ze Kingdom have perished?

Truly ignorant.

Despite his extreme internal contempt, he was still forcibly carried out by Qŭ Yè the next day.

Leng Licí glared resentfully at his paws, acknowledging that he currently lacked the ability to retaliate.

On the street.

Everyone was dressed up. Both men and women were covered in silver ornaments. Amidst the surging crowd, the wind carried the sound of jingle bells, seemingly naturally integrated with the singing.

If the Ze Kingdom’s sacrificial day was characterized by a methodical sense of ceremony mixed with liveliness, the Southern Ze Kingdom’s day held a little more casualness, which did not diminish the joy and reverence in everyone’s eyes.

An eyesore.

Leng Licí closed his eyes, choosing to ignore the sight.

He didn’t know where they were walking, but the aura of mortals around them grew increasingly dense. A fox’s sense of smell and hearing are extremely sensitive. Leng Licí felt his nose was filled with the distinct scents of at least ten people.

Even without looking, he knew the crowd was now shoulder-to-shoulder.

“Huang’er has truly grown up. He looks exceptionally handsome in his sacrificial robes!” He heard Aunt Liu’s voice exclaim.

Meng Huang?

Leng Licí opened his eyes. At the center of the crowd, a high platform stood. On the platform stood a tall man in elaborate attire. The man wore clothes embroidered with five-colored patterns and a high hat. Both his hat and neck were adorned with intricate silver ornaments. He was currently kneeling piously before the Bai Ze divine statue.

“Rise!”

A high-pitched, solemn voice shouted.

The man kneeling on the ground lifted his head.

Leng Licí’s fox eyes narrowed, clearly seeing the man’s face.

Meng Huang?

This was clearly Yun Qingwu!