Volume 2: Fuzhu Huodou
This time, I can’t run away again…
After a brief moment of astonishment, Yi Qiu realized she had been an idiot again.
Just yesterday, the system had clearly stated that Ao’an Mountain was hidden from the mortal realm by a divine power barrier, that a High God named Xun Chi1 lived inside, and that he was raising a four-horned white deer that caused floods wherever it went. How could a place like this possibly be burned down by a big fire dog?
Wait a minute!
A black dog that burns everything wherever it goes, and a white deer that floods everything wherever it goes?!
So, that brilliant system really wasn’t spouting nonsense. Water overcomes fire—it was a principle even a three-year-old understood. How did her brain just short-circuit, failing to think of it at all?
In the original novel, You Yan loved to borrow a knife to kill someone2. Now that she herself was no match for the Huodou, she would naturally find a way to use another power to take care of it.
“System, that… that flood-causing deer you mentioned yesterday, what was it called again? Is it powerful? More powerful than the Huodou?”
【The Fuzhu is an Ancient Fierce Beast in the world of 《Thin, Withered Branch》. It has the form of a white deer with four horns and is a beast that portends water. Legend says that wherever it appears, floods will occur. It has now been enlightened by the High God Xun Chi and has become the Guardian Divine Beast of Ao’an Mountain.】
It really was a powerful creature. No wonder You Yan came here. She wasn’t looking for the big fire dog; she was looking for a fire extinguisher.
However, a High God resided here. Was it really appropriate for You Yan, as the Venerable of the Demon Realm, to barge into this place so brazenly?
“You Yan, your injuries haven’t healed yet…” Yi Qiu leaned close to You Yan’s ear and whispered a reminder, “I don’t think this place is ordinary. It seems like some incredible immortal lives here. For us to just break in like this, isn’t it a bit too…”
Before Yi Qiu could finish her sentence, the surrounding grass, trees, birds, and sparrows all transformed into a nearly static state of ink wash. At the same time, the heavens and earth turned into an ink wash painting scroll.
It was a scroll that seemed capable of imprisoning all of creation, and within it, only an inky spiritual light flowed slowly like water.
A powerful spiritual pressure suddenly descended from all directions. Yi Qiu subconsciously leaned toward You Yan, who shielded her with one hand while propping up a spiritual energy barrier with the other.
“What demon has come here to disturb the peace of my Ao’an?”
The person who spoke strode out from within this painting that used the sky and earth as paper and living beings as ink.
He had silver hair tied up with a jade pin and was dressed in a long, ink-black robe. His features were handsome and refined. He held not an inch of iron in his hands, only fanning himself with a folding fan painted with an eyeless dragon. His immortal bearing was proud, and he was imposing without being angry.
Within the painted realm, You Yan’s long hair lost its black color, leaving only a deep, dark red.
She lifted her eyes to the person before her and replied unhurriedly, her tone faint, “If I were to go to the Heavenly Realm right now, even that old man Di Jun3 would have to treat me with courtesy. Yet you ask who I am? Xun Chi, I fear you’ve lived a life of leisure for too long and your brain has gone muddled along with it.”
“You dare speak the Heavenly Emperor’s name directly? You are…” Xun Chi’s gaze froze. After a moment’s hesitation, he saw the water-colored long whip tied to her waist, which also bound another small demon. In an instant, his expression changed drastically. “Red hair, golden eyes, the Chuixue Whip… You are the Demon Lord You Yan?!”
“The Heavenly and Demon Realms haven’t gone to war in a long time. You should all know that’s because I’m mindful of that little bit of ‘past sentiment’ from Kunlun.” You Yan’s lips curved into a slight smile as she raised an eyebrow and sneered, “What? Now that I’ve left the Demon Realm to come find you immortals and gods to reminisce a little, this is how you treat a guest?”
Xun Chi frowned slightly. After hesitating for a few seconds, he finally raised a hand and drew a magical seal in mid-air. In an instant, he withdrew the divine power from the surroundings.
Although everyone knew that the Demon Lord You Yan held no “past sentiment” for Kunlun, the delicate peace between the Heavenly and Demon Realms had indeed lasted for a thousand years. If he wasn’t absolutely certain he could execute the demoness before him, then it was indeed best not to offend her.
After a moment of silence, Xun Chi flicked his fan open, repairing the damaged barrier behind You Yan. Only then did he perform a cupped hand salute. “Ao’an Mountain has not appeared in the world for several thousand years. May I ask what the Demon Lord seeks by coming here today?”
“The life of a High God is truly carefree.” You Yan’s gaze swept faintly across the surroundings as she smiled. “The mortal realm is in peril. Does a High God care?”
Xun Chi’s expression turned serious. “The mortal realm has its own tribulations. Unless a demonic calamity befalls the world, immortals and gods cannot easily interfere in mortal affairs. This is the Laws of the Heavenly Dao4.”
Hearing this, You Yan took the utterly baffled Yi Qiu by the hand and walked two steps forward. “I wonder, in the High God’s view, does my entry into the mortal realm count as a demonic calamity befalling the world?”
Xun Chi was momentarily speechless. He frowned and stared at You Yan for a long time, as if trying to discern her true intentions from her eyes.
Seeing that he didn’t answer, You Yan stopped teasing him and simply said, “No need to be nervous. I have come today with no ill intent. I only wish to borrow the Fuzhu. As for the reason, you can understand it as this: the mortal realm is in peril, and you immortals and gods don’t dare to intervene because you’re constrained by the Laws of the Heavenly Dao. I, a demon lord, can’t stand to watch, so I’ve decided to meddle a bit.”
“I have already made myself very clear. The mortal realm has its own tribulations. Let alone the chaos of war or the changing of dynasties, even if the blue seas turning into mulberry fields5, it is still the will of the Heavenly Dao. Immortals, demons, gods, and devils should not interfere with their own power!” Xun Chi said with a frown. “I will say it again: the Fuzhu will not leave this place. Its power far exceeds yours or mine, and it does not belong in the mortal realm.”
“You gods are truly stubborn,” You Yan retorted.
“Demon Lord, please leave!” Having said this, Xun Chi flicked his sleeves, turned, and walked away with his hands clasped behind his back.
You Yan followed behind him. “It should be on this mountain. I will find it.”
Xun Chi replied indifferently, “Even if I agree, it will not go with you. With your power, I’m afraid you won’t be able to take it away.”
“It will come with me. I have a way to make it follow me willingly.” As You Yan spoke, she stopped, closed her eyes, and began to use the Soul-Searching Art.
“You Yan! What on earth are you trying to do?” Xun Chi turned and used his spiritual power to stop her, frowning angrily. “The Fuzhu is an Ancient Fierce Beast! Its power is not something you can control!”
“That is no concern of High God Xun Chi,” You Yan replied, once again releasing her soul-searching power.
Xun Chi couldn’t help but grow furious. At the slightest disagreement, he attacked again.
The fan with the painted dragon unfolded, closing in on You Yan in an instant.
You Yan spun to evade. Just as she steadied her footing, in the flash of lightning and spark of flint6, she had already exchanged several blows with him with bare hands and empty fists7, without moving a single step.
Traces of ink and shadowy green spiritual light crisscrossed back and forth. Yi Qiu stood frozen to the side, watching with a heart trembling and gallbladder shaking8, her eyes wide and mouth agape.
Everyone says that when gods fight, it will bring disaster to the fish in the moat9, but she was standing just half a meter from You Yan’s side. When the two of them fought, the hems of their robes brushed against her face, yet she didn’t get so much as a scratch.
But not being injured didn’t mean she wasn’t frightened.
When You Yan pulled the Chuixue Whip from her waist, she was spun around like a top for several turns. If her foundation hadn’t improved so much after her spiritual root grew, she would have nearly fallen to the ground.
In the next second, the magical battle between the god and the demon grew even more intense. Terrified, Yi Qiu hid behind a large tree and began to spectate with lingering fear.
As she watched, she remembered that You Yan’s injuries hadn’t healed and grew a little worried.
This damn woman, really! Isn’t she just trying to borrow a deer to deal with a dog? It’s not like these gods would truly ignore the life and death of the mortal realm. If she just explained things clearly, wouldn’t it be over?
Yi Qiu couldn’t help but jump out from behind the tree and shout anxiously, “You Yan, stop fighting! High God Xun Chi, we don’t have any ill intentions, can’t we talk this out properly?”
But no matter how she shouted, the two people before her showed no sign of stopping.
After a moment of contemplation, Yi Qiu took a deep breath and gathered spiritual energy in her hands.
Saliva was spat from the little alpaca demon’s mouth. It hung suspended in mid-air, and under the urging of the alpaca demon’s faint spiritual power, it expanded and split into countless droplets of spit, spraying directly toward the two who were fighting inextricably, just like a water truck.
Such a weak attack was naturally incapable of harming anyone, but both Xun Chi and You Yan instantly flew back a distance of two meters.
Yi Qiu could read the astonishment in their eyes.
Because that astonishment was identical to the complaint she wanted to make in her heart.
—Ew! How can there be such a disgusting method of attack!
“Uh, um…” Yi Qiu scratched her head and blinked. “Stop fighting!”
At this moment, You Yan and Xun Chi were at least five meters apart. The fighting had temporarily stopped, but neither had lowered their weapon.
“Let’s talk this out properly!” Yi Qiu said, rushing forward to grab You Yan’s wrist. “You Yan, let’s talk. We can discuss anything!”
“I did talk properly.” A look of disdain crossed You Yan’s eyes. She looked down, straightened her clothes, and said faintly, “He was the one who attacked first.”
Xun Chi said, “I do not know what the Demon Lord truly seeks, but since the Fuzhu has already chosen to remain here, I must protect its peace for a lifetime.”
You Yan retorted, “Even if the Huodou has returned to the mortal world?”
“What!” Xun Chi’s expression changed dramatically upon hearing this, his hand holding the fan tightening involuntarily. “Impossible…”
“Impossible?” You Yan let out a light laugh and held out the arm that had been injured by the Huodou, using her spiritual power to force out a burst of remnant heavenly fire poison.
“This…”
“You should recognize the power of the Huodou,” You Yan said, retracting her spiritual power. “Half a month ago, I encountered it in Wuzhou. My internal injuries have yet to heal. Otherwise, you think you’re worthy of attacking me?”
Xun Chi hesitated for a moment, then frowned. “This matter should not be the Demon Lord’s to interfere in, and you certainly shouldn’t be looking for the Fuzhu… If the mortal realm is in peril, I will inform the Heavenly Realm. Demon Lord, please leave!”
“Hey, what’s with you, god? Didn’t you say you could interfere in mortal affairs if a ‘demonic calamity befalls the world’?” Yi Qiu asked with a frown. “That Huodou is so ferocious. Letting it remain in the mortal realm will surely become a disaster! We just want to borrow your white deer, why are you being so stingy?”
“Since the Demon Lord’s injuries have not yet healed, it would be best to recuperate. Do not force my hand to see you out again and again!”
“Xun Chi.” A young girl’s voice came from behind them, light, gentle, and ethereal, as if from a dream.
Xun Chi fell silent, closed his eyes, and let out a heavy sigh.
Yi Qiu quickly looked toward the source of the voice.
A white deer walked out from the forest. It had four horns on its head and seemed to be wreathed in a soft white light, elegant and immaculately clean.
She said—
“Xun Chi, two thousand years ago, if I had chosen to face it, perhaps everything would have been different.”
“This time, I can’t run away again…”
The author has something to say:
A little bit of unimportant trivia: Di Jun (diqun), the ‘qun’ is pronounced in the first tone10. Legend says that the Three-legged Golden Crows were born to Di Jun (the ancient Heavenly Emperor) and his wife Changxi (the moon goddess, distinct from the sun goddess Xihe).
Xun Chi, according to legend, was one of the three great gods under the Yellow Emperor.
Aside from this, all the various immortals, demons, gods, and devils in the text are from legends, but they are also different from the legends. Please don’t get too hung up on the differences. For example, the Huodou can’t really eat fire, poop fire, and then infinitely sustain itself. She’s just a little girl who’s over ten thousand years old!
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