Mistaken Era 86

Chapter 86

Grandmother Wei’s sharp eyes swept over the young man and woman who had entered, her voice low and steady. “A-Jie, what exactly happened last night? How could you… how could you succumb to demonic energy with your master?!”

Beside her, Wei Jingfeng, unable to contain his frustration, spat, “He’s a demon spawn, born of a Mei woman! What’s so surprising about him turning into a demon?! The worst part is, he dragged that witch into the underworld! Mother, why waste your breath on them? Seize them and deal with them swiftly!”

The word “demon spawn” struck a nerve with Wei Jie. His eyes, darkening, fixed on his uncle.

But before he could speak, Xiao Xiao cut in, her voice cold. “Clan Leader Wei, I thought A-Jie respected you deeply. He always told me you were the backbone of the Wei family. He’s facing a difficult situation, harmed by treacherous individuals, his heart filled with turmoil. And you, his elder, his family, instead of offering him support, you resort to insults, condemning him without understanding the situation. What good does that do, besides damaging family bonds?”

She might have severed her ties with Wei Jie, but hearing him being insulted, right before her eyes… Sect Master Cui couldn’t stand for it.

Protecting her own, even if they were former disciples, was ingrained in her. She wouldn’t allow anyone to call him “demon spawn”!

Wei Jie, his demonic energy, stirred by his uncle’s words, suddenly subsided as Xiao Xiao defended him.

His little master was beautiful when she smiled, but her fiery anger, her glare… it was captivating in a different way!

Wei Jingfeng, despite his harsh words, was actually a kind man at heart.

Haunted by his brother’s death, he had always been at odds with his nephew. But as Wei Jie matured, displaying his father’s strength and composure, Wei Jingfeng had softened towards him.

But now, seeing him succumb to demonic energy, influenced by Cui Xiao Xiao, his frustration boiled over.

He hadn’t expected this outburst from the usually amiable Cui Xiao Xiao.

Her words were sharp and precise, a calculated attack.

She had started by mentioning Wei Jie’s respect for him, placing him on a pedestal he couldn’t escape, then subtly criticized his coldness, his lack of empathy for his nephew.

Wei Jingfeng, speechless, sputtered, “You… you witch…”

Xiao Xiao scoffed, her gaze sweeping over the approaching silver-armored guards. “If Clan Leader Wei wishes to spar, I’m happy to oblige. But you seem to be injured. Perhaps you should rest for a few days. We’re here to enjoy a cup of tea, not engage in violence. Don’t you agree, Madam Wei?”

Grandmother Wei, having witnessed Xiao Xiao’s sharp tongue before, realized she had been hiding her true nature.

Her words were a clear warning. They had all been defeated by Wei Jie after he succumbed to his demonic nature.

Especially Wei Jingfeng, who was still recovering from his injuries. He would be wise to back down.

Understanding the underlying message, Grandmother Wei remained calm. “Sect Master Cui is right. A-Jie has finally returned. A peaceful cup of tea is what we need. But Sect Master Cui, do you realize the gravity of your actions last night? Even the finest tea will turn bitter after what you’ve done!”

Xiao Xiao clasped her hands, offering a sincere apology. “Wei Jie has explained the Wei family’s tradition of sealing the gates on the night of the red moon. But may I ask, is there a reason for this tradition? Could someone have exploited it, lured us into the underworld knowing about the Wei family’s customs?”

Grandmother Wei’s brow furrowed. “What? You weren’t the ones who entered the underworld? Someone tricked you?”

Xiao Xiao explained how she and Yu Ling’er had been led astray by Ye Yi’s magnolia blossoms.

And the proof was undeniable. When they escaped from the underworld, Yu Ling’er’s skirt had snagged a dried petal from her sachet, a petal from the other shore flower.

Those flowers bloomed on the far side of the River of Forgetfulness, a place inaccessible to the living.

If Xiao Xiao was telling the truth, who possessed such power, the ability to manipulate the boundary between the realms?

The petal, still emanating its intoxicating fragrance, caused Grandmother Wei’s expression to shift.

After a moment of contemplation, she dismissed everyone except Wei Jingfeng.

She picked up the petal, her voice heavy. “Someone who can pluck other shore flowers from the underworld… they can’t be human!”

Xiao Xiao nodded in agreement. Ye Yi, with his refined appearance and enigmatic aura, was unlike anyone she had ever met.

He reminded her of Wei Jie when his divine power was awakened… Could he also be…

“Years ago, a traitor named Wei Di stole a page from the Book of Life and Death,” Grandmother Wei said. “But now, looking back… did he truly have the power to do it alone? And now, this demonic flower from the underworld has appeared in the mortal realm… I fear something terrible is brewing.”

She looked at her grandson, at his forehead.

He had succumbed to demonic energy yesterday, yet the blue mark on his forehead had clearly been a divine symbol.

As the guardians of the underworld, she had recognized it immediately. It was the mark of the former ruler of the underworld, the ancient Flame Emperor!

Unsure whether she had seen correctly, she had consulted ancient texts after stabilizing the underworld barrier.

Although the blue mark was gone now, it had left behind a faint red outline, identical to the Flame Emperor’s mark.

She had been stunned.

Wei Jie, dismissive of the idea of being the Flame Emperor reincarnated, simply explained that he had been possessed by a spirit stone, his mind clouded.

But his words struck Grandmother Wei like a bolt of lightning. A spirit stone that sealed divine power… it wasn’t like the demonic bead, which could attach itself to anyone.

Only the vessel of a fallen deity could awaken and bind with such a stone.

If Wei Jie could merge with a divine spirit stone, it meant he was the Flame Emperor, experiencing a mortal tribulation!

This ostracized, mixed-blood child… he was the long-lost Flame Emperor, the true ruler of the underworld!

Wei Jingfeng, realizing the truth, stared at his nephew, the “demon spawn” he had just condemned, speechless.

Grandmother Wei, having prepared herself after recognizing the mark, was the first to react. She grabbed her cane and knelt before her grandson. “The Wei family has been blind, failing to recognize the divine being in our midst. Please, forgive our transgression!”

Wei Jie’s brow furrowed, and he rushed to help her up. But she insisted, ordering her son to kneel as well.

Although the underworld had been in chaos, its throne empty for far too long, they had never forgotten their true master.

The ancient Flame Emperor, the ruler of the underworld, the arbiter of life and death, the one who held the fate of all souls in his hands.

The Wei family, merely caretakers, guarding the gates for their true master.

Cui Xiao Xiao, although aware of Wei Jie’s unusual origins, had never imagined this.

But she understood the Wei family’s excitement. The Flame Emperor’s return meant freedom for them, bound to Qilao Mountain for generations.

They would no longer bear the burden of guarding the entrance to the underworld!

Tears streamed down Grandmother Wei’s face, while Wei Jingfeng, overwhelmed, struggled to find words.

Xiao Xiao offered a sincere apology. She recalled striking Wei Jie during their chaotic battle yesterday, failing to even offer him medicine.

She felt a pang of guilt. She hadn’t treated him with the reverence he deserved.

Would she be punished for disrespecting a deity? Would burning incense before him while he slept appease the heavens?

Wei Jie, unable to lift his grandmother, who was overcome with emotion, knelt beside her, telling her not to worry. He had accidentally shattered the Flame Emperor’s divine power core. It was beyond repair. He couldn’t become a god anymore.

Both mother and son stared at him, their eyes wide. “What? The divine power core is shattered?”

Possessing a divine power core halved the difficulty of ascension.

It was a secret technique, passed down among deities who descended to the mortal realm.

They would hide their sealed divine power core, waiting for the right moment to awaken it, allowing them to swiftly regain their celestial status.

It seemed the Flame Emperor had done the same, separating and sealing his power core.

But… how could such a precious artifact be shattered?

Wei Jingfeng, initially speechless upon learning his nephew’s true identity, was now enraged. He wanted to berate him, but the words caught in his throat. He was the Flame Emperor! His face flushed red, his anger threatening to consume him.

Grandmother Wei, recovering first, allowed Wei Jie to help her up. She gripped his wrist, examining him closely. There was no trace of divine energy, only a faint demonic aura, swirling and gathering.

“How is this possible? Even with a shattered divine power core, you shouldn’t be succumbing to demonic energy!”

Wei Jie shrugged, his expression indifferent. He had always been destined to become a demon. “Since I’m here to experience a mortal tribulation, I must endure all hardships. How can I rule over the demons of the underworld if I haven’t experienced their nature myself?”

His words, although illogical, seemed profound coming from the Flame Emperor reincarnated.

Grandmother Wei nodded, convinced.

Xiao Xiao, feeling a pang of guilt, pretended to be engrossed in an ancient text Grandmother Wei had offered her, using it to hide her face.

Wei Jie was a master of deception!

But if he told his grandmother the truth, that he had succumbed to lust, his heart consumed by desire for Xiao Xiao… she wouldn’t be able to face them.

This fabricated tale of sacrificing himself for the greater good sounded much better.

Glancing at the ancient text, she realized it contained a wealth of information about celestial beings, even more gossip-worthy than Master Tang Youshu’s manual…

Grandmother Wei, although accepting Wei Jie’s explanation, couldn’t help but sigh.

“Your constitution does make you more susceptible to demonic energy. But once you succumb, regaining your celestial status becomes a hundred times harder… Last night, on Qilao Mountain, the demonic entities of the underworld sensed their master’s aura. They’re restless. Those creatures don’t care about hierarchy. They only respect strength. If you still possessed your divine power core, it wouldn’t be a problem. But now… they sense your weakness. No wonder the ground has been trembling. The demons of the underworld are rebelling!”

Xiao Xiao, confused, put down the book. “The Flame Emperor’s mortal tribulation… it’s not a recent event. Why didn’t those demons react before?”

“A deity’s tribulation is like an emperor’s tour,” Grandmother Wei explained. “They might be away for a while, but they will eventually return, their authority intact. But if their divine power core is shattered, their ascension impossible… it’s like an emperor dying on the road. Of course, the demons will seize the opportunity to rebel.”

Xiao Xiao understood. The demons of the underworld knew that Wei Jie, his divine power core shattered, had fallen from grace.

His authority as their ruler was gone, and chaos was brewing!

No wonder the ground had trembled when Wei Jie showed signs of succumbing to demonic energy again.

Grandmother Wei looked at her grandson. “A-Jie, you are not only a descendant of the Wei family, but you also bear a responsibility far greater than any of us…”

She paused, pointing at the ancient text. “Young lady Cui, you seem to enjoy reading. Why don’t you take this book with you? The Wei family cannot leave Qilao Mountain. You will have to face the storm brewing beyond these mountains.”

Xiao Xiao, seeing her hesitation, realized that whoever was behind their entrapment was someone powerful, someone the Wei family didn’t dare to cross.

They were choosing to stay out of it, offering her this book as a clue, leaving her to uncover the truth.

This time, Grandmother Wei didn’t even invite them to stay for a meal. She simply told Wei Jie to visit his mother. Mother and son, reunited after so long, deserved some time together.

Since returning to the Wei family, Si Ling had been living a secluded life in the Buddhist hall, avoiding contact with everyone.

Grandmother Wei knew it wasn’t a sustainable solution. If Wei Jie could convince his mother to let go of her hatred, to return to the underworld and renounce the mortal realm, it would be for the best.

As they left the main hall, Xiao Xiao, looking at Wei Jie’s tall, lonely figure, couldn’t help but tug at his sleeve. “Your grandmother… she does care about you. It’s just that she has a whole family to worry about. Her love… it’s spread thin.”

Grandmother Wei’s primary concern hadn’t been Wei Jie’s well-being, but the implications of his shattered divine power core, the imbalance it caused in the underworld.

Xiao Xiao knew she would be devastated if her own family prioritized duty over her safety.

Wei Jie, seeing her efforts to reassure him, chuckled, ruffling her hair. “Silly girl, I’m not a child anymore. Even if my grandmother doesn’t like me, I’m not going to cry about it!”

Xiao Xiao looked at him, but didn’t speak.

She knew him too well. He cared about family more than he let on.

And now, with his true identity revealed, the fragile bond he had forged with the Wei family had been overshadowed by a greater responsibility.

If Grandmother Wei knew he had succumbed to demonic energy because of her… would she sacrifice her to appease the spirits of the underworld, to ensure the Flame Emperor’s ascension?

“Do you… do you regret losing your divine power core?” she asked softly. “With it, you could have ascended, returned to your rightful place. The Flame Emperor… he sounds powerful.”

Wei Jie looked at her, his gaze intense. “Yes, my ascension would set you free. After all, there’s a long line of young men waiting to share a drink with you on the rooftop…”

The Flame Emperor, his fate altered in this life, had developed a jealous streak.

Xiao Xiao, exasperated, retorted, “Why would I want a young man when I have a two-hundred-year-old con artist to drink with? You should have told your disciple Tang Youshu to find you some girls with strong yin energy. You could choose the least annoying one, the one who catches your eye!”

Seeing her bringing up the past, he covered her mouth, silencing her. “Who else could possibly catch my eye? Remember, you were the one who approached me, begging to take me as your disciple! We were destined to be together!”

You smelly turtle! Who’s destined to be with you?!

Xiao Xiao had a hundred sarcastic remarks ready, but his hand muffled them, leaving her to sputter in protest.

Grandmother Wei and Wei Jingfeng stood at the entrance of the main hall, watching them walk away, their laughter echoing through the courtyard.

Wei Jingfeng frowned, observing Wei Jie’s playful gesture. “A deity descending to the mortal realm… how dignified. Look at that brat. How can he possibly be the Flame Emperor reincarnated?”

Grandmother Wei, although also frowning, said, “Who has truly seen a deity? It’s just our mortal perception. Besides, A-Jie has always been extraordinary. When he was born, his father consulted a fortune teller, who said he was destined for a life filled with tribulations, but also great achievements. Jingling asked if there was a way to avert those tribulations. The fortune teller said, ‘The tribulation is something he desires but cannot have.’ Looking back, it seems his greatest tribulation is ‘love.’ I hope he doesn’t follow his father’s path. I hope he can overcome this ‘love.’”

Wei Jingfeng’s brow furrowed. “Perhaps you should speak with him, Mother. Your words might have an effect.”

Grandmother Wei sighed. “A-Jie is stubborn, just like his father. I couldn’t stop his father, and I can’t stop him. Perhaps his mother can persuade him.”

Wei Jie and Xiao Xiao arrived at the Buddhist hall. They pushed open the door and saw Si Ling kneeling on a cushion, her back to them.

“Mother,” Wei Jie called out. “Xiao Xiao and I are here. How are you?”

He called out several times, but Si Ling didn’t respond, her body still.

Was she angry that he hadn’t visited her sooner?

He took a few steps forward, but then he stumbled, his vision blurring, his eyes turning black.

Xiao Xiao, noticing his distress, grabbed his hand.

With his divine power core shattered, his demonic nature was surfacing even faster than hers, despite her harboring the demonic bead.

The ancient Flame Emperor, the ruler of the underworld, walked a path that blurred the lines between good and evil, unlike other deities.

Wei Jie, in the early stages of succumbing to his demonic nature, was unstable. Thankfully, Xiao Xiao, his cure, was by his side, preventing him from falling into darkness as he had in their past life.

But as his vision cleared, he realized something was wrong with this room…

Xiao Xiao felt it too. Thanks to Tang Youshu’s influence, she had gained some knowledge of feng shui and mystical arts.

The room was dimly lit. Several bronze mirrors, unusual for a Buddhist hall, were strategically placed, reflecting the flickering candlelight.

It was like the Demonic Ghost Sect’s Illusionary Realm, a place designed to disorient and confuse!

She looked closely at Si Ling and noticed dark veins appearing on her neck. “Oh no!” she exclaimed, quickly taking out a Clarity Talisman and placing it on Si Ling’s back.

Si Ling’s body jerked forward, collapsing against the altar.

Xiao Xiao rushed to help her up, her heart pounding.

Si Ling’s face was streaked with tears, her eyes red and swollen. And before her… a bowl filled with her tears of blood!

The Mei people couldn’t cry. Their tears were their lifeblood. But those tears also possessed a magical power, a coveted ingredient for cultivators and alchemists.

This setup… was someone trying to harm Si Ling?

If they hadn’t arrived in time, she would have died in this secluded hall!

The Clarity Talisman brought Si Ling back to her senses. Her tear-filled eyes focused on Wei Jie, mistaking him for her deceased lover.

“Jingling,” she cried, clutching him tightly. “Don’t leave me!”

Wei Jie patted her back, gently massaging her temples, suppressing his anger. “Mother, it’s me. Please, don’t cry.”

He called out to her several times before she finally recognized him. Her eyes, filled with pain and disappointment, met his. “A-Jie… it’s you… I had such a long dream…”

Xiao Xiao, staring at the room’s unusual arrangement, asked, “Madam, has this hall always been like this?”