Little Alpaca – Chapter 202
by Little PandaVolume 6: Bound by the Life Soul
Weren’t You in a Hurry to Throw Yourself into My Arms?
“Get… a sun for the Demon Realm?”
“Yeah. In the Demon Realm, only Buhuo City gets to see the sunrise and sunset, but the sun there is cold, like winter in the Mortal Realm. Everywhere else is dim and frigid, with no day or night, no seasons. Ordinary plants can’t grow at all…” Yi Qiu replied earnestly. “I’ve been thinking, wouldn’t it be great if the Demon Realm could become a second Mortal Realm? Then the Demonic Land would no longer be barren, and most demons could be self-sufficient, just like humans. They wouldn’t have to live that kind of life where the weak are meat, the strong eat,1 eating raw fur and drinking blood.”2
When Yi Qiu finished speaking, she saw a look of profound surprise on Jiang Yuyao’s face. But after that brief moment of astonishment, Jiang Yuyao didn’t say anything discouraging. She simply propped her elbows on her knees, rested her chin in one hand, and asked a serious question.
“Yi Qiu, do you know why Buhuo City is different from the rest of the Demon Realm?”
“I don’t.” Yi Qiu couldn’t help but shake her head.
“The Earthly Realm is called that because it’s buried deep beneath the Mortal Realm. How could there be light underground?”
“Oh, right… Then, why does Buhuo City have light?” Yi Qiu frowned, her curiosity piqued. “The Yao Clan… the Yao Capital is also in the Earthly Realm. Since they’re both in the same realm, why does the Yao Realm have a place of light?”
“Buhuo City in the Demon Realm and the Yao Realm are adjacent to each other. They are Chaotic Lands3 that appeared during the separation of the Ancient Lich Yao. Rather than saying they belong to any one realm, it’s more accurate to say they are bridges connecting the Mortal and Earthly Realms. There is another similar Chaotic Land—the Netherworld. The difference is that the former can see the Mortal Realm’s sun and moon, while the latter is completely enveloped by the Earthly Realm’s darkness and cold. But whether it’s light or dark, the spiritual energy in these Chaotic Lands is balanced. It won’t harm the Body of an Immortal God, nor will it cause demons pain.”
Jiang Yuyao looked at Yi Qiu and said with great earnestness, “The vast majority of demons cannot endure the sun’s scorching heat for long. And even if they could use spiritual power to counteract the heat, the cultivation techniques they practice would have a hard time adapting to and absorbing the worldly spiritual energies formed by sunlight.” With that, Jiang Yuyao shook her head gently. “So, even if the passages between the two realms were opened one day and the Heavenly Court allowed demons to move freely in the Mortal Realm, it would be very difficult for them to survive here for long.”
The Demon Realm, Jiang Yuyao was saying, might not be able to bear the light a sun would bring.
Yi Qiu listened, her gaze turning vacant for a moment.
If Jiang Yuyao hadn’t brought it up, she would have completely forgotten.
Demons had cold blood; they didn’t fear the bitter cold but dreaded extreme heat. The techniques they cultivated mostly involved manipulating Netherworld Power, the most common energy in the Earthly Realm. Netherworld Power was sinister and yin-aligned, so it would naturally be suppressed in a place like the Mortal Realm, which was a convergence of Yang Qi.
Perhaps it was just as the original novel had written. Destroying the Mortal Realm could turn it into a second Demon Realm, but gifting the Demon Realm with light and warmth wouldn’t necessarily turn it into a second Mortal Realm. For the demons, that might not be a good thing at all.
All living things change to adapt to their environment. Over tens of thousands of years, the demons had already changed so much to adapt to the Demon Realm. To them, the Mortal Realm was like the riverbank to a fish. Choosing to go there would inevitably be an agonizing experience.
Even if the Jinwu4 creating a sun for the Demon Realm didn’t incur punishment from the Heavenly Realm, the demons themselves might not be able to accept such a kindness.
At this thought, Yi Qiu sighed softly, a flicker of disappointment in her eyes.
“I was just speaking casually. Nothing is ever absolute,” Jiang Yuyao said, gently patting Yi Qiu’s shoulder.
“Actually, it’s me who’s asking for too much.” Yi Qiu shook her head with a helpless smile. “I want the Demon Realm to become a second Mortal Realm simply because I like it, and I thought You Yan would like it. It wasn’t truly about wanting the demons to be able to live in the light.”
It was like how a fish cannot swim in the sky, and a bird cannot fly in the sea.
Every living creature in the world has its own way of survival. No one should try to change anyone else based on their own wishes.
Jiang Yuyao pondered for a moment before asking softly, “Yi Qiu, do you hate the Demon Realm? Or rather, do you want to stay and live in the Mortal Realm?”
The question sent Yi Qiu into a thoughtful silence.
Did she hate the Demon Realm? Thinking back carefully, when she was lazing around there, she never felt there was anything wrong with it, nor did she have a stronger desire to stay in the Mortal Realm.
She just felt that the Mortal Realm was nice, and that You Yan might like it more, but You Yan ultimately couldn’t stay in this place forever.
“I… I’m fine anywhere, really, as long as I’m with You Yan…” Yi Qiu mumbled quietly. “I just feel like she seems to be… liking the Mortal Realm more and more.”
“Miss You must think the same way.” Jiang Yuyao closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and smiled. “Have you ever considered that perhaps what she likes was never the Mortal Realm, but simply any place that has you in it?”
“Huh?”
“You saw it in Xun Chi’s Painted Realm. The Jade Sea is far more beautiful than the Mortal Realm, but during those nine lifetimes I spent waiting for his tribulation to end and for him to return, I felt like I was in a prison. Spending hundreds of years in a paradise like that is nothing compared to enduring a single long night with the one you care for, huddled together and covered in wounds in some dark, cold place.” Jiang Yuyao opened her eyes and gazed into the distance for a long while before continuing, “I entered his dreamscape and accompanied him through nine lifetimes of loneliness and despair. Only then did I truly understand that the light and warmth in this world are never found in what’s before your eyes, but in the depths of your heart.”
Yi Qiu’s mouth fell open, and for a long time, she couldn’t say a word.
She had known all along, actually. For You Yan, there was little difference between the Heavenly and Mortal Realms; they were just places that had once refused to accept her. In contrast, the dark, cold Demon Realm, where the weak are meat, the strong eat, was her true sanctuary.
And in the novel, You Yan had turned the Mortal Realm into a second Demon Realm without a shred of regret.
You Yan disliked Kunlun, yet she was willing to stay with her in that place filled with the malice of others, cherishing their incredibly simple joys day after day.
You Yan disliked the Mortal Realm, yet for the sake of the pity and concerns in Yi Qiu’s heart, she had come to the aid of this world—a world that had nothing to do with her—time and time again.
Yi Qiu was only now realizing that You Yan had probably never come to like any particular place or thing. She had simply, gradually, accepted everything that Yi Qiu had hoped she would like.
And all of this, it seemed, was just because they were together.
If one day, she was fated to leave this place, then even if she could truly leave behind a Demon Realm made identical to the Mortal Realm for You Yan, You Yan wouldn’t be happy.
She had almost forgotten. You Yan had given her half a strand of her Life Soul.5 If she were forcibly taken away by the system, what would happen to You Yan…?
A short while later, Yi Qiu returned to their temporary Guest House with a meal, her mind heavy with thoughts. As she pushed open the door, she saw an incredibly familiar figure sitting at the table, sipping tea.
She stood frozen in the doorway for a long time. It wasn’t until the person lifted a pair of slender, pale gold eyes and said coolly, “What took you so long?” that she snapped back to her senses and flew forward.
You Yan had finally changed back from that little bird into her human form. It had been so long since Yi Qiu had seen her like this that a dizzying sense of longing washed over her. All her chaotic thoughts were wiped clean in that instant, leaving only the overwhelming impulse to rush forward and embrace her.
She hurried to the table, set down the food container, and opened her arms to pull You Yan into a hug. But before she could even touch her, she was blocked by a barrier of spiritual light just an inch away. It was like running into a sheet of glass; she couldn’t get any closer.
Yi Qiu bit her lower lip, frowning as she took half a step back. Her mouth moved slightly, her expression aggrieved. Just as she was about to say something, she felt her wrist being grasped by cold fingers. With a gentle tug, she tumbled into You Yan’s lap.
No matter the time, place, or the identity of the person before her, actively hugging someone and being pulled into their arms were two completely different experiences.
“You…”
“What, weren’t you in a hurry to throw yourself into my arms?”
“What nonsense are you talking!” Yi Qiu rolled her eyes, her cheeks flushing crimson. She tried to stand up, but she was no match for You Yan’s strength. For a moment, she could only lower her gaze and change the subject in a small voice. “You should quite like the food today…”
“Hm?”
“You won’t need me to feed you anymore, right?” As Yi Qiu spoke, she raised an eyebrow and gave You Yan a pointed wink. The message was clear: You Yan had lost plenty of face while stuck in her original form, and now that she’d just recovered, it was best not to rush into flipping through the little grudge notebook6 for some mutual destruction.
Perhaps the hint worked. After a brief silence, You Yan released her wrist.
Yi Qiu quickly stood up and sat down beside You Yan as if nothing had happened. She took the dishes out of the container and placed them gently on the table. At the same time, she asked casually, “How did you suddenly change back?”
You Yan reached out and took the pair of wooden chopsticks Yi Qiu offered, asking coolly in return, “What, you didn’t want to see me like this?”
Yi Qiu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Of course not! I’m obviously concerned about you, okay!”
“I thought you’d be disappointed that you can no longer…” You Yan trailed off, her words hanging in the air as she just watched Yi Qiu.
But whether she finished the sentence or not, the meaning was obvious.
Yi Qiu pressed her lips together and answered honestly, “A little bit, actually. You were especially well-behaved when you were a little bird.” The moment the words left her mouth, she saw You Yan glare at her. She quickly waved her hands, trying to backtrack. “But you can’t stay in that bird appearance7 forever, right? I don’t want to marry a little bird that needs someone to break up its food to be fed. I mean, it’s cute and obedient, but I still prefer you like this!”
You Yan was silent for a moment, then extended an index finger toward Yi Qiu. “I, on the other hand, wouldn’t mind marrying an alpaca that needs someone to break up its food to be fed.”
“No, no, no, you don’t have to break it up!” Yi Qiu quickly grabbed You Yan’s outstretched finger with both hands, bending it back down in seconds. Her tone was placating. “I can eat by myself! And I can even serve you food!”
As she said this, she tentatively released her hands and, without another word, piled You Yan’s bowl high with food.
The entire sequence of movements was as smooth as flowing clouds and running water8—it was clear she’d done this many times before.
Footnotes
- Original: ‘ruòròuqiángshí’. A classic idiom describing a world governed by the ‘law of the jungle,’ where the strong prey on the weak.
- Original: ‘rúmáoyǐnxuè’. An idiom literally meaning ‘to eat raw fur and drink blood,’ used to describe a primitive, savage, or uncivilized existence.
- Original: ‘hùndùn zhī dì’. A cosmological term for an intermediate or transitional zone that connects different realms, possessing a mixture of their properties.
- The Jinwu, or Golden Crow, is Luo Mingyuan’s true form. As a sun crow, he possesses the power to create suns.
- Original: ‘mìng hún’. A being’s fundamental life force and soul essence. To give away a part of it is an extreme act of trust and bonding, linking their fates.
- Original: ‘fān jìchóu xiǎo běn běn’. A popular modern slang phrase for someone who meticulously remembers slights and plans to get even later.
- Original: ‘niǎo yàng’. Literally ‘bird appearance’ or ‘bird state.’ Depending on tone, it can be a neutral description or a slightly derogatory term like ‘that damn bird look.’
- Original: ‘xíngyúnliúshuǐ’. A classic idiom describing actions that are perfectly fluid, natural, and unconstrained.
Thank you very much for the translation..