Chapter 61: “It’s Fine, I Won’t Ask Again”
Although the passage between the human and demon realms was a one-way street, news could still travel between the two worlds.
There were always those who risked their lives for profit, those capable of navigating the treacherous passage and surviving in the Demon Realm.
They were familiar with the demons, conducting illicit cross-realm trades for immense profits.
Ever since the Demon Bone escaped to the Demon Realm, cultivators from various sects had been using these traders to gather information.
Si Qinglan, having traveled the human realm for millennia, even after founding Mount Chao Yao, still occasionally visited the human world.
She naturally knew a few of these traders.
To stay informed, she had given them tokens allowing access to the mountain, tokens that hadn’t been used in a long time.
But since Mu Tao went to the Demon Realm, these connections became useful again.
“Such a big event, if I can hear about it, then the other immortal sects surely can too.” Si Qinglan said, her gaze distant, lost in thought.
Li Yu had initially thought it would take at least three years for the main storyline to progress.
But she never expected Mu Tao to advance the plot so quickly on her own.
The system had mentioned the butterfly effect, how even small changes could have significant consequences.
So now, what was influencing Mu Tao, allowing her to accomplish in such a short time what took three years in the original story?
Was it…her?
Li Yu lowered her gaze.
That 99% blackening value hadn’t changed.
It was because of her, because she had changed so many details.
If the little protagonist in the original story also had a blackening value, it would have stemmed partly from the male protagonist, partly from her master, and partly from the world’s malice.
Her hatred, her obsession, her resentment, were all scattered.
So, it took her a long time to gather them, to piece together a hateful self amidst her confusion and loneliness.
But this time was different.
Li Yu thought, it was her arrival, her giving Mu Tao that cultivation manual, that changed everything.
She had thought that treating Mu Tao well would prevent her from blackening, from becoming the ruthless killer in the latter half of the novel.
But she had become too close, fostering a dependence in Mu Tao even stronger than the protagonist’s dependence on the male protagonist in the original story.
She hadn’t seen this dependence as a problem, believing she would always be with Mu Tao, never letting her go.
Yet, she had abandoned Mu Tao at the entrance to the Demon Realm.
Just like in the original story, without any explanation, severing the Harmony Bells, turning away without looking back, indifferent to her cries and pleas.
All those promises and vows had become thorns in Mu Tao’s heart.
Mu Tao didn’t need to hate the world or anyone else.
Just her.
Because this time, she was the one who pushed the blackening value to its peak.
Fueled by this focused hatred, Mu Tao no longer hesitated, simply striving for power, to return and demand an explanation.
Perhaps she would see Mu Tao soon.
Should she be happy?
When they met again, how would she explain, how would she quell that hatred?
Li Yu’s heart was in turmoil, her mind racing with chaotic thoughts.
Fragmented memories from the novel, her experiences with Mu Tao, her eagerness to see her again, and the uncertainty of their future, all crowded her mind.
“Li Yu?”
“…”
“What are you spacing out about?”
“…”
“Are you even listening to me?!” Si Qinglan slapped the table again.
Li Yu looked up at her, worry in her eyes.
Si Qinglan, seeing her like this, hesitated to continue.
After a moment of thought, she sighed softly. “I know you’re sad, but…our paths and that girl’s…they’re destined to diverge.”
“Are they…”
“The Demon Realm respects strength. She killed the Demon Lord, so she will become the Demon Lord. All the demons will obey her. I don’t know if, at her age and with her temperament, she can handle such power.” Si Qinglan’s worry deepened. “We were the ones who let her go. If one day, she leads the demons to wreak havoc on the human realm, we will be held accountable…”
Li Yu: “It was me, it has nothing to do with you or Mount Chao Yao.”
Si Qinglan: “…”
Li Yu: “I’ll bear the responsibility myself.”
Si Qinglan: “What are you talking about?”
A flicker of sympathy appeared in Si Qinglan’s eyes. “I was the one who brought her here, and I didn’t stop you when you decided to take her away.”
Not only did she not stop her, but she even helped.
This wasn’t Li Yu’s responsibility alone.
Si Qinglan sighed. “I hope she just wants to protect herself… If she can stay in the Demon Realm peacefully, then there won’t be any problems.”
Li Yu couldn’t say for sure. With so many changes to the plot, Mu Tao’s current mindset must be drastically different from the original story.
She shouldn’t harbor much resentment towards the human realm or Mount Chao Yao.
How much of the original plot would unfold, and what ending the protagonist would ultimately have, was uncertain.
But one thing was certain; Mu Tao wouldn’t stay peacefully in the Demon Realm.
They still had to meet again.
Mu Tao’s blackening value hadn’t reached 100% yet; there was still hope.
How and where they would meet, and whether she could reduce that blackening value, would likely depend on the subsequent main storyline.
The system had only said that severing the Harmony Bells and abandoning Mu Tao, allowing her to become the Demon Lord, was a crucial plot point.
But it hadn’t said that Mu Tao leading the demons to invade the human realm and attack Mount Chao Yao was also part of the main storyline.
Li Yu paused, and seeing that the system didn’t object, felt slightly reassured.
After Si Qinglan left, Li Yu sat by the window, lost in thought.
Her thoughts were chaotic, but gradually, they became clearer.
She shouldn’t stay on Mount Chao Yao and wait for Mu Tao to return.
Mu Tao had become the Demon Lord, fulfilling the system’s initial requirement, so the restrictions on her should be lifted.
If she waited here for Mu Tao to find her, it would only fuel Mu Tao’s resentment and inevitably lead to conflict with Mount Chao Yao and the human realm.
But what if she took the initiative?
She could go to the Demon Realm and find Mu Tao, avoiding potential conflicts!
She could explain everything to Mu Tao. Even if the system muted some of her words, with enough time, she could surely make her understand!
Li Yu asked the system inwardly, “The crucial plot point has passed. I want to go to the Demon Realm and find Mu Tao. Will you stop me?”
【The protagonist has become the Demon Lord, fulfilling the prerequisite for the subsequent main storyline. The host is free to act as you see fit.】
Hearing this, Li Yu almost cried with relief.
It felt like she had finally reached the end of a long and arduous journey.
She had been waiting for this day!
She stood up excitedly.
Then, she hesitated.
Should she leave now? Should she inform Si Qinglan?
If she did, would Si Qinglan try to stop her?
Things were different now; Mu Tao was the Demon Lord. Si Qinglan probably wouldn’t let her go to the Demon Realm.
After much deliberation, Li Yu decided to leave secretly.
Knowing that leaving without saying goodbye was rude, she decided to write a letter.
Driven by a clear goal, she immediately sat down at the desk.
The brush, ink, paper, and inkstone here were purely decorative. Not only did she not know how to use them, but the original owner probably hadn’t used them either. They were practically antiques. If she hadn’t been routinely cleaning them with spiritual energy, they might not even be usable now.
Grinding ink was something she had seen in TV dramas; just add water and grind, easily done with spiritual energy.
But writing with a brush was more difficult.
She considered her handwriting decent, not beautiful, but not ugly either.
But this time, her letter to Si Qinglan was messy, the strokes uneven, with inkblots from shaky hands and corrections, quite embarrassing.
Looking at the finished letter, she had the urge to destroy it.
Should Li Yu, the Exalted Immortal, have such terrible handwriting?
This was a difficult question…
Perhaps…it was acceptable?
As an immortal, communication was usually done through spells. Having barely written anything for millennia, her handwriting being rusty was understandable, right?
It was just a letter for Si Qinglan; she was the only one who would see it!
And Si Qinglan wasn’t close to the original owner; surely she hadn’t seen her handwriting?
Even if she had, it didn’t matter; she had already revealed many flaws before Si Qinglan.
Thinking this, Li Yu folded the letter, placed it in an envelope, and weighed it down with the inkstone.
She stood up to leave, then, worried that Si Qinglan might not notice the letter, added a faint spiritual aura to it. Reassured, she lifted her skirts and walked to the door.
She paused at the doorway, lost in thought.
After a moment, she returned, retrieved the ice flower from the window, and carefully placed it in her spatial pouch.
Then, taking a deep breath, she stepped out of the room, unsure if she would ever return.
She was going to find Mu Tao!
Mu Tao must have been waiting for a long time.
She had so much to say, although Mu Tao might not be willing to listen, but it didn’t matter; she would take her time.
Li Yu formed a hand seal, concealing her spiritual aura.
“System, directions!” she said inwardly, unable to contain her excitement.
A faint golden line appeared, guiding her, further lifting her spirits.
Just as she was about to activate her flying spell, a voice echoed beside her, startling her.
“Where are you going, Cangming Revered One?”
The voice was close, yet there was no one in sight.
The voice was cold, devoid of emotion.
Only one person on Mount Chao Yao spoke like this: Weisheng Xuanzhu.
Weisheng Xuanzhu never came to Chaoxi Pond, why was he here now?
This wasn’t normal…
Li Yu frowned, confused.
A wisp of icy blue light appeared beside her, solidifying into a familiar form.
She took a deep breath, calmed herself, dispelled the concealment spell, and replied casually, “Nowhere in particular, just feeling restless, wanted to take a walk.”
“Is that so?” Weisheng Xuanzhu stared at her.
His gaze, though cold, made her uneasy.
Li Yu: “Why are you here today, Lingyao Revered One?”
Weisheng Xuanzhu: “I have something to discuss with you.”
What could they possibly have to discuss…?
Even if there was, it probably wouldn’t be pleasant.
This was a headache. Couldn’t he have come at a different time?
She would have been gone by now!
She should have written a shorter letter…
Li Yu sighed.
Weisheng Xuanzhu: “It seems you’re still not happy to see me.”
Li Yu: “Come back another day, I’m not in the mood today.”
Weisheng Xuanzhu: “Even if it’s about Mu Tao?”
Li Yu frowned.
After a moment of thought, she invited him inside.
Going to the Demon Realm could wait; since he had seen through her attempt to leave, and he clearly had something to discuss, she might as well listen.
As she sat down at the table, she poured two cups of tea.
The tea was cold, but the autumn air wasn’t chilly yet, so there was no need to reheat it.
Weisheng Xuanzhu took the teacup and said calmly, “Your little disciple…is probably the new Demon Lord now.”
She already knew that.
But somehow, hearing it from Si Qinglan and hearing it from Weisheng Xuanzhu felt different.
Li Yu thought for a moment and said softly, “She’s not inherently evil, perhaps she’s just trying to protect herself…”
Weisheng Xuanzhu: “There’s no need to explain. Whether that child is good or evil…I don’t care.”
Li Yu: “Then what do you care about?”
“I’ve never actually met her, not once in over two hundred years.” His voice was flat, like still water. “If there’s a chance, I would like to meet her.”
What was going on?
Why would he suddenly say this?
He had never shown any interest in Mu Tao before. Now that she was the Demon Lord, someone the immortal sects feared and avoided, why did he want to meet her?
This was strange—
Both his sudden visit and this topic made Li Yu uneasy.
Unable to decipher his intentions, she remained silent.
Weisheng Xuanzhu, seeing her silence, continued, “I heard…that child is very attached to you, that you mean more to her than anything.”
Li Yu: “Is that why you’re here, Lingyao Revered One? Just to tell me this?”
Weisheng Xuanzhu: “Of course not.”
Li Yu: “Then get to the point.”
With a flick of his wrist, the envelope weighed down by the inkstone flew into his hand.
Li Yu panicked. “That wasn’t for you!”
As soon as she spoke, the envelope disintegrated, leaving only the letter floating in the air.
She instinctively tried to destroy it with a spell but was blocked by a spiritual light barrier.
“Weisheng Xuanzhu!!!”
This was infuriating! How could he be so rude, reading her letter without permission?!
As she fumed, she noticed a strange look in his eyes.
He frowned, staring at the messy handwriting, lost in thought.
Li Yu’s heart skipped a beat, a sudden wave of panic washing over her.
This iceberg seemed to have known the original owner for a long time. Could he…recognize her handwriting?
Her compatibility was full after months of recuperation, but a single, undeniable flaw could cost her dearly.
She glanced at her compatibility, relieved to see it hadn’t changed, then felt confused.
What was going on…?
The atmosphere was strange, unsettling.
After a long silence, Weisheng Xuanzhu spoke again. “If you want to go to the Demon Realm, I won’t stop you.”
For a moment, Li Yu saw a flicker of sadness in his dark eyes.
…Was it her imagination?
No, that wasn’t important!
What mattered was that her compatibility hadn’t decreased, and Weisheng Xuanzhu hadn’t questioned her identity.
Not only that, but he also didn’t seem to object to her going to the Demon Realm to find Mu Tao.
Li Yu: “You…you won’t stop me?”
The light in Weisheng Xuanzhu’s hand dissipated, and the letter fluttered to the ground.
He looked up at Li Yu and said in a low voice, “I said, I can choose not to stop you.”
It wasn’t her imagination; he emphasized the word “can.”
So, he could choose not to stop her, but there were conditions, right?
Li Yu: “What are the conditions?”
Weisheng Xuanzhu: “I want the truth from you.”
Ah, the familiar keywords.
That “matter from the past,” the “truth” again!
She wasn’t surprised at all.
This inexplicable question was starting to haunt her.
Li Yu: “I’ve already told you, I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
As she spoke, a spiritual barrier appeared around the windows and doors, trapping her.
Weisheng Xuanzhu: “Mu Tao is the Demon Lord now. If you try to find her, and I catch you…do you think Si Qinglan will object to me keeping you here?”
Li Yu: “…”
Seriously, did it have to be like this?
She really didn’t know anything!
What was the truth he wanted? Where was this so-called truth?
Would she ever be able to leave this mountain?!
“I don’t understand, is this the first time you’re asking this question?” Li Yu said, exasperated. “If you’re not satisfied with my answer, then ask someone else! Why are you so fixated on me?”
Weisheng Xuanzhu: “You know the truth, why won’t you tell me?”
Li Yu took a deep breath, frustrated. “Weisheng Xuanzhu, I’m seriously at my wit’s end! What truth do you want?! Why are you so sure I lied to you?!”
“Don’t try to change the subject.”
“I’m not…” Li Yu was so frustrated she couldn’t even speak properly.
She took a deep breath and calmed herself. “Weisheng Xuanzhu, let me ask you, sincerely, earnestly, from the bottom of my heart, what kind of answer do you want? I swear, I’m not trying to dismiss you, I’m just genuinely curious, what do you want to hear? Can you tell me?”
“…”
“Can you tell me?” Li Yu repeated.
“…”
“Or let’s try a different question. Regarding that matter from the past, what is the part that bothers you the most, the part you can’t let go of? Can you tell me?”
As she asked, she noticed his breathing deepen slightly.
He was silent for a long time, lost in thought.
Li Yu didn’t urge him, just waited patiently.
Suddenly, she saw a flicker of…pleading in his dark eyes.
Weisheng Xuanzhu asked her, “Four thousand years ago… after I entered hibernation, what happened in the North Sea?”
Four thousand years ago, the North Sea…
Wasn’t that his hometown?
The original story mentioned that he lived in the North Sea Abyss.
Why bring up four thousand years ago? Nothing good happened then…
【Friendly reminder: The North Sea, according to legends, is a sea shrouded in eternal night, located at the northernmost point of the world, untouched by sunlight, moonlight, or starlight!】
A land of eternal night, a lightless sea!
In human legends, that fallen ancient god perished in a lightless sea!
Was the North Sea four thousand years ago the place where the gods and immortals defeated the Heavenly Demon?
Was that what he was asking?
Why?
“Four thousand years ago, the Heavenly Demon was revived…The North Sea was the battlefield of that war…” Li Yu said tentatively, “Were…you affected?”
After a few seconds of silence, the light in Weisheng Xuanzhu’s eyes dimmed.
He let out a faint chuckle. “Li Yu, you still don’t want to tell me.”
Li Yu: “It’s not that…”
Damn it, wrong password!
Weisheng Xuanzhu: “It’s fine, I won’t ask again.”
What did he mean?
Had she reached the maximum number of incorrect attempts?
“I will find out myself…” He said softly, his voice filled with weariness. “But before that…I need a favor from you.”
Li Yu, feeling a pang of guilt, asked softly, “…What is it?”
Weisheng Xuanzhu: “Bring back the Demon Bone for me.”
Li Yu’s eyes widened. “What are you talking about?!”
A torrent of thoughts flooded her mind.
Before she could process them, she found herself amidst a vast, starry sky.
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