They Are Archenemies, But They Have A Child - Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Core Formation

“Divine Lord, the person has arrived.”

Amidst the clusters of flowers, the figure who was intently unfolding a book and placing it on a wooden stand paused, turned to look at Cloud Qingwu, and raised a hand in salute: “Greetings, Yuanjun.”

“Divine Lord, there is no need to—”

Cloud Qingwu stepped forward, intending to help her up, but a flash of a sword preempted him.

“What exactly are you plotting?”

“Leng Lici!” Cloud Qingwu summoned his spear and pointed it at Leng Lici’s neck: “Put the sword down.”

The chilling spear tip left a conspicuous bloody mark on the fair skin, but the person seemed not to feel it, instead drawing the sword in his hand closer, adopting a stance of achieving his goal or taking them both down.

In the deadlock, the child seemed to sense the tense atmosphere, starting to wriggle restlessly. An invisible pressure began to gather again. In an instant, the expressions of both combatants darkened, yet no one broke the stalemate.

Instead, the Phoenix Divine Lord, who was being threatened, remained placid, as if the object held against her neck was not a sword but a trivial toy. She glanced at the two of them, then looked at the child with the wrinkled face in Cloud Qingwu’s arms. A momentary surprise flashed: “The Ancient Guardian Lamp actually gave you such a fortune.”

“How so?” Cloud Qingwu looked at the Phoenix Divine Lord, his expression serious.

“The Ancient Guardian Lamp’s most widely known ability is to transform the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and mortal incense into aid for cultivation. However, it was originally a spiritual object formed from the first wisp of cloud in creation. When it absorbs enough mortal incense, it infinitely approaches a mortal embryo. Under normal circumstances, it can only stop there, but if different consciousnesses bestow it with a bloodline, coupled with True Fire refinement, it is not without the opportunity to take human form.”

The sword in Leng Lici’s hand glowed red, his killing intent deepening: “How do we remove the bloodline control?”

The Phoenix Divine Lord ignored the sword tip at her neck and took a few steps toward Cloud Qingwu. She reached out to stroke the infant’s Dantian area and said calmly: “The reason she can influence you is that your consciousnesses have not fully merged with the child yet. Once the child forms her Core (Jie Dan) and becomes an independent individual, her influence on you might also disappear.”

Hearing this, the expressions of the two softened slightly.

Leng Lici thoughtfully looked at the small, living creature in Cloud Qingwu’s arms that had quieted down a bit.

Regardless, he must immediately remove the inner core. It was something that belonged to him.

“Is there a way to help her form her Core quickly?”

Cloud Qingwu looked at the infant in his arms with a complex expression. As long as this restriction was not lifted, he could not personally descend to eliminate the evil that was Leng Lici.

“There is.”

The Phoenix Divine Lord hesitated for a moment, looking inscrutably at Cloud Qingwu and Leng Lici, seemingly pondering her words.

Leng Lici looked impatient: “How?”

The Phoenix Divine Lord averted her gaze: “This child’s birth is too unique. Before forming her Core, she requires nourishment from her blood relatives through Dual Cultivation, at least once a month. Otherwise, the child’s life will be in danger, and the parents, who share the bloodline, will suffer heavy damage—severe cases can be life-threatening, minor cases can result in the complete destruction of cultivation. So…”

Cloud Qingwu’s eyes darkened.

Leng Lici gripped his sword tightly.

The overly intimate sensations from the dream, the sound of scorching breath near his ear, surged back like a curse, uncontrollable.

The Phoenix Divine Lord did not perceive their emotions and continued to add fuel to the fire with a composed expression: “So, if you wish to accelerate this process, perhaps you can increase the frequency of Dual Cultivation.”

After speaking, she glanced at the two and finally sensed the explosive atmosphere, adding in time: “There are two methods of Dual Cultivation. If you do not wish to be physically intimate, you can also choose to interact via your Consciousness (Shi Hun). However, the corresponding effect will be diminished. You should—”

“In your dreams!”

As if finally unable to bear it, Leng Lici abruptly changed the direction of his hand. The soft sword that had been across the Phoenix Divine Lord’s neck immediately darted toward Cloud Qingwu.

Cloud Qingwu, holding the child, dodged sideways. Anger and shame mixed together, instantly igniting into a raging fire. He tossed his spear upwards.

“Die!”

The spear in the air stirred the tranquility of the mountain. The surrounding air instantly felt like a frozen cellar. The spear, stained with fury, shot down from above toward Leng Lici’s head.

“Waaah waah waah waah!”

A tragic wail once again echoed through heaven and earth.

Thud!

The parties who were ready to fight just a second ago once again made intimate contact with the ground. They raised their heads, glaring at each other with hatred, wishing the other would turn to dust. Unwillingly, their tails unfurled behind them. Red and white intimately intertwined, wrapping around the crying child.

Cloud Qingwu gritted his teeth and coaxed: “Good child, don’t cry. Daddy is just playing around with your Mommy.”

Leng Lici watched Cloud Qingwu with dark, menacing eyes, forcing a cold smile. His other tail whipped up from behind, savagely striking Cloud Qingwu’s face: “You’re her Mommy?”

Cloud Qingwu endured the stinging pain on his face and fiercely closed his eyes.

You just have too many tails…

The infant wrapped between them curiously grabbed one tail in each hand, cooing and laughing in satisfaction, tears suddenly turning into smiles.

The sword and spear, which had been lying still like dead fish, shook their bodies, regaining vitality, and impatiently returned to their respective masters’ hands.

The Phoenix Divine Lord, seeing the two quiet down, finally approached. Her gaze fell on the playing child. She looked up at Leng Lici and Cloud Qingwu, her expression slightly more serious: “If you wish to solve the problem, you must quickly learn to control your emotions. Before the Core is formed, the child is extremely sensitive to your emotions. As long as she senses killing intent toward each other, she will forcibly intervene in her own way.”

With the constraint on his body gone, Leng Lici coiled his tail, swiftly bringing the child over. He stood up, turned around, and left.

Cloud Qingwu did not stop him. Although this child carried his bloodline, half of her was ultimately demon. He could not cross the hurdle in his heart with peace of mind.

“Leng Lici.”

The footsteps ahead did not stop.

“Stop your slaughter in the name of godhood, or I will kill you immediately, even if it means we perish together.”

Leng Lici’s footsteps paused for an instant. He didn’t look back, vanishing in a flash.

Cloud Qingwu turned to the Phoenix Divine Lord, his gaze earnest and slightly hesitant: “Divine Lord, this matter is complicated. I ask that you keep this strictly confidential.”

The Phoenix Divine Lord nodded: “Yuanjun, rest assured. Not a single piece of information about today’s events will leave my clan.”

“Thank you, Divine Lord.”

Cloud Qingwu bid farewell and departed.

“Divine Lord, did you predict this event that day, which is why you allowed that fox demon to take the Ancient Guardian Lamp?” The maidservant walked up from the side, a lingering sense of satisfaction in her eyes.

The Phoenix Divine Lord watched the direction the two had left, her eyes as calm as a deep pool, offering no reply.

…

“We respectfully welcome the Venerable One! It is the great fortune of our clan that the Venerable One has returned safely!”

Leng Lici looked coldly at You Suqian, who was kneeling on one knee before him, and lightly swept his gaze across the crowd behind You Suqian.

The corner of his mouth curled into a mocking arc: “Is that so?”

Seeing his reaction, You Suqian knelt down on his other leg, his forehead touching the ground, his voice filled with self-reproach: “This was the fault of your subordinate’s poor protection, which allowed Cloud Qingwu an opportunity. I request punishment from the Venerable One.”

“Mhm, punishment is in order.”

Leng Lici waved his hand behind him, and a luxurious black wooden chair appeared. He sat down casually, tossed the small fry beside him, and looked down at the kneeling man: “Bring the Scorching Chest (Zhi Xiang).”

You Suqian’s expression twisted for a moment upon hearing this.

“Venerable One, this is not the Director’s fault. The Director should not endure such a severe punishment.” A young man in armor stepped forward, kneeling beside You Suqian, but his head was stubbornly held up, his eyes full of arrogance as he looked at Leng Lici.

You Suqian maintained his kneeling posture and shouted sternly: “Muli!”

You Su Muli was the son of the Nine-Tailed Azure Fox Elder. The Nine-Tailed Azure Fox Clan had been responsible for military affairs within the clan for generations, and You Su Muli was the outstanding one among them, thus commanding considerable prestige within the clan.

Others who had been observing also began to chime in.

“Yes, please impose a lighter punishment, Venerable One.”

“The Director has done his best; it’s those hypocritical gods who are too deceitful!”

“Exactly, the Director shouldn’t be punished.”

Hidden by his forehead pressed to the ground, You Suqian’s lips curved into a smug smile.

However, the next second, that smile froze on his face.

A playful voice sounded from above: “In that case, You Su Muli…”

Leng Lici retracted his gaze and slowly and deliberately polished the bone sword in his hand: “You administer the punishment.”

The voices of support below instantly vanished completely. Only You Su Muli remained kneeling, showing no intention of moving.

“You don’t want to carry out the punishment?” Leng Lici released the hilt of his sword. The bone sword, which had been obedient moments ago, instantly flew into the air. The blade lengthened and curved, forming a circle above You Suqian. The red light intensified, and flames gathered into several sharp blades, poised to strike. If they all fell, the person below would instantly be stabbed into a porcupine.

“Then, you die?”

“You—!” You Su Muli suddenly stood up, his hand gripping the knife at his waist.

The murmurs behind him grew loud again, their eyes full of caution and hostility toward Leng Lici. Compared to Leng Lici, a half-demon, You Suqian, the true bloodline of the noble Nine-Tailed White Fox, was the legitimate one in their hearts.

“The Director is your uncle! How can you—Aaaahhh—”

The person who spoke did not finish their sentence before being replaced by a scream.

The remaining people were furious but dared not speak.

“Muli! Administer the punishment!” You Suqian tightly clenched his fists. He knew that the bargaining chip he had hastily pushed forward was insignificant in Leng Lici’s eyes. If this standoff continued, that madman, Leng Lici, would truly kill him. He could not die!

“Director!” You Su Muli’s eyes were bloodshot.

“Administer the punishment!” You Suqian roared sternly.

Leng Lici coldly watched their “deep affection,” finding it utterly boring. A warm touch brushed his finger. Startled, he began a killing move, but at the last moment remembered the small fry beside him, forcing himself to retract it.

The small fry also seemed bored, cooing incessantly, reaching both hands out toward him.

What did that mean?

Leng Lici frowned, taking no action.

“Ah ah ah.”

He looked away, trying to ignore it.

“Ooh ah.”

Leng Lici: “…”

Pffft!

A fiery red tail was offered up.

Finally, silence.

The originally furious mood of the people below was forcibly repressed by this scene. Apart from You Su Muli, who was still full of resentment while preparing the Scorching Chest, and You Suqian, who was immersed in humiliation, the others curiously stared at the baby lying next to Leng Lici.

“I wanted to ask earlier, what’s the deal with that child? Why did the Venerable One return from a trip with an extra child?”

“Probably secretly birthed it outside. Which blind idiot would willingly bear a child for that tyrant?”

“Forced, of course. Who can defy him.”

“Your subordinate thanks the Venerable One for the reward and the punishment!”

Amidst the chattering gossip, You Suqian’s abrupt voice rang out. After everyone’s attention refocused on him, he finally let out the breath he had been holding. With a resolute expression, he walked into the Scorching Chest as if marching onto a battlefield.

The instant the door closed, fierce flames instantly surrounded You Suqian.

The sound of flesh splitting and the smell of burning skin made everyone present jump in fear. The weak-stomached began to retch uncontrollably.

At first, only suppressed panting could be heard. Later, as if finally unable to control himself, agonizing screams erupted from the chest.

You Su Muli’s eyes were bloodshot, and his lower lip was bitten until it bled.

Leng Lici, who had been disinterested earlier, now had golden eyes that turned into vertical slits from excitement. It was as if the miserable screams and the acrid smell were the most beautiful melody in the world, temporarily alleviating all the unreleased frustration he had felt today.