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墨書 Inktalez
Bone Demon was well aware that Kong Xuan must have been determined to take drastic measures. All his focus was on Kong Xuan, but he failed to notice that someone nearby had already made a move.
A purple figure flashed like lightning, instantly shaking off the Binding of Immortals that bound Tang Zisu and Lang Ye, then the Binding of Immortals transformed into a straight line and rushed towards Bone Demon.
Bone Demon shouted, "Seeking death!" as he extended a white, chilling Bone Blade from beneath his dark attire. The Bone Blade ensnared the Binding of Immortals, then elongated until it pierced Mei Xiao's heart.
With a splatter, a spray of blood erupted as the Bone Blade was withdrawn, each droplet vividly bright.
Everything happened so quickly that no one knew how to react. Just moments ago, Pojun had harbored intense hatred for Mei Xiao, but now he saw her drenched in blood, leaving him somewhat bewildered. What had happened?
“Mei Xiao.” The first to react was Lang Ye, who was closest to her. He embraced Mei Xiao's fallen body. Her eyes were half-closed, yet she was calling out one name—Pojun, Pojun.
Pojun, I was wrong from the start; I caused you to do something unforgivable to your brother. Can you forgive me?
Pojun, I am a fox spirit; I have no true feelings, yet I fell in love with you. The way the Xuanyuan Tomb Clan expresses love is extreme—either love or die!
Pojun, the first time I saw you was in the dense forest; you had a small fox pinned under your claws. You didn’t eat it; instead, you gently patted its head and released it back into the wild.
Pojun, that little fox stole celestial herbs and transformed into a human just to be closer to you.
Pojun, Pojun, why do you always look down on me and refuse to glance my way?
Lang Ye's hands were stained with blood as he trembled and said, “Pojun, she’s calling for you. Is she… going to die?”
With a roar, Pojun charged forward. Lang Ye felt a blur before him as Mei Xiao fell into Pojun's embrace. He lowered his head and looked at her for the first time so closely.
It turned out that what he once thought was annoyance and hatred had gradually transformed into something else, like seeds blown by the wind taking root in a garden—germinating and sprouting until they became a soft green covering over the fragrance of flowers.
The image of a silver-haired man gradually appeared in Mei Xiao's pupils as she almost inaudibly sighed, “Pojun.”
Pojun tightly embraced her, pressing his face against hers, experiencing for the first and last time in his life the closeness to her.
With her purple eyes closed and a smile at the corner of her mouth, Mei Xiao stopped breathing and slowly transformed into a pure white fox in Pojun's hands.
Pojun finally remembered that a thousand years ago, he had once pinned down such a little fox under his giant claws. At that time, her purple eyes seemed to be on the verge of tears, and the ferocious tiger softened his heart, releasing her back into the forest.
It turned out that she had always been his fate, while he was her calamity.
While Pojun faced life and death, Kong Xuan and the Heavenly Emperor seized the opportunity to strike early against the Bone Demon. The Bone Demon was surrounded by a surge of demonic energy, black mist wrapping around its body. That mist was filled with deadly poison; inhaling it caused excruciating pain throughout the body.
However, he was not dealing with ordinary opponents but the highest beings of the three realms: the Heavenly Emperor and the Peacock King. His defeat was evident as he faced numerous dangers under the Dragon's Roar Sword and Phoenix Tail Sword, yet he remained calm and unperturbed.
While he was unfazed, Tang Zisu felt anxious. For some reason, she sensed something was off with Kong Xuan. Her heart raced; even when the Bone Demon had gripped her throat earlier, she had not felt this tense.
Suddenly, the Bone Demon flicked its sleeve, and a golden little insect flew into the sky. It flapped its wings in mid-air, producing a buzzing sound.
Both Kong Xuan and Pojun suddenly felt a strange and dense pain surging within them, as if countless tiny insects with sharp mouths were crawling over their bodies, gnawing and crushing everything in their path until only empty shells remained.
Kong Xuan threw away his sword and bent down, a thin stream of bright red blood seeping from his mouth. The blood trickled from the corner of his mouth down to his neck like a winding red thread, strikingly vivid.
Pojun's power was clearly inferior to his; at this moment, Pojun was already overwhelmed with grief that affected his heart and lungs. Now he was in unbearable pain, transforming into a tiger as he lay on the ground convulsing.
At this point, the battle had already determined its victor. The bloodthirsty Sun Wukong could no longer distinguish between friend and foe. He was led by the Bull Demon King despite not having a bull's nose himself. The Bull Demon King was precisely the Bone Demon's confident pawn; or rather, they were all in cahoots while keeping Kong Xuan and Sun Wukong in the dark. The outcome of this great battle had been decided; the disciples of Intercepting Teachings seized their chance to press forward layer by layer, filling nearly all of the Heavenly Palace with their presence.
A heavy sense of disappointment enveloped the Heavenly Emperor as he looked at the ruins and smoke rising from broken walls, witnessing rivers of blood and piles of corpses. Suddenly, he felt aged beyond measure, unable to lift the Dragon's Roar Sword.
Tang Zisu shouted to Lang Ye: "Let's escape! As long as there are green mountains left, we won't fear having no firewood."
Lang Ye nodded. Tang Zisu unleashed Crimson Lotus Fire towards the Bone Demon and took advantage of the fierce flames to carry Kong Xuan away to safety.
"Kong Xuan" murmured weakly, still concerned about others, "Heavenly Emperor and Po Jun."
"Tang Zisu" focused intently on navigating through the mist and clouds, feeling a slight resistance from "Kong Xuan" in her arm. She replied, "Po Jun has "Lang Ye," and the "Heavenly Emperor" is uninjured; he will find a way himself. As for me, I will only take care of you."
Finally, "Kong Xuan" softly collapsed into "Tang Zisu's" embrace and fainted.
It was unclear how long they had been fleeing or where they had ended up. Just as "Tang Zisu" thought to catch her breath, she found the "Bone Demon" standing right in front of her.
The flesh on the "Bone Demon's" face had rotted away, exposing its white bones. Its eyes and mouth were dark holes, particularly disgusting.
"Tang Zisu" suppressed her urge to vomit and said, "You’re quite fast on your feet; you caught up so quickly."
"I underestimated you. I didn't expect you could truly unleash the power attached to your soul."
"Tang Zisu" lowered "Kong Xuan" to lean against her shoulder. She could distinctly feel warmth at her waist where "Kong Xuan's" hand rested. Knowing that "Kong Xuan" had awakened gave her a sense of reassurance, making her less afraid.
Ultimately, she didn't want to die; she wanted to live well with him and their child.
The "Bone Demon" said, "You are now at your wits' end; it's time to hand over the Soul Command Token."
"Tang Zisu" replied, "Yes, you need the Soul Command Token to deal with the Western Celestial Xuan Buddha. Even if you win today, the Tathagata won't sit idly by. Which of his Three-World Buddhas, Four Great Kings, Five Directions Buddhas, Eight Bodhisattvas, Top Ten Disciples, Eighteen Arhats, Eighteen Jialan, or Twenty Celestial Beings can your Azure Palace handle? I suggest you don't provoke him."
"Thanks for the reminder. I still have Sun Wukong; he would be perfect for dealing with the Tathagata. But before that, I need the Soul Command Token to kill the Peacock King."
"You should know that Sun Wukong is no match for the Tathagata; he can't escape from the Tathagata's Five Finger Mountain."
"That's why I still need the Soul Command Token. Hand it over quickly; don't make me ask twice." The "Bone Demon's" fierce appearance was truly terrifying.
"Tang Zisu" felt at a loss about what to do. She thought that buying some time might help; surely her "Kong Xuan" would come up with a solution. So she asked again, "Let me ask you one more question." Seeing his unfriendly expression, she quickly raised a finger and added, "Just one last one."
"Speak."
"How did I end up here? Was it your doing?"
The Bone Demon grinned ominously, "Who else could it be? I never expected the soul of the Light Eye to arrive thousands of years later. To bring you back, I had to disrupt the Heavenly Clock. Without you, how would Kong Xuan break the seal? How would we find the Soul Command Token?"
"So you're saying I traveled through time? I could go into the mountains to look for mushrooms and still encounter strange events. So you deliberately mentioned the Divine Maiden's descent to lure Kong Xuan?"
"Is it not obvious by now? It seems you've asked more than one question."
Tang Zisu raised her hand in a stopping gesture. "These questions are actually one. Who told you not to answer me properly? I'll ask the last one, really the last one: Did you kill the clan leader's wife?"
"Of course. That old hag bothered me for decades, always nagging. I wanted to kill her long ago."
Tang Zisu sighed, "Sigh, Kong Xuan bears the title of Demon King, but you are the true monster. The old woman was your wife in life, and yet you are so heartless."
"Heart? I have none. Hand over the Soul Command Token quickly; stop playing tricks. Even if you delay, Kong Xuan won't wake up. Even if he does wake up, he'll still be harmed by me. Hand it over."
Feeling exposed left Tang Zisu at a loss. She looked down at Kong Xuan in her arms, still pale and with tightly closed eyes, showing no signs of recovery. Without any Soul Command Token to give him, she suddenly noticed the Malachite necklace around her neck and an idea struck her.
"I'll give you the Soul Command Token if you let us go."
"What qualifications do you have to negotiate? Hand it over quickly; don't force me to act."
A doubt arose in Tang Zisu's mind. If he wanted to kill her, it would be easy; even just for the Soul Command Token, he wouldn't endure this long. Could it be that he was injured or afraid to kill her?
A bold thought formed in her mind. Tang Zisu suddenly set Kong Xuan down and took a few steps forward before striking out unexpectedly.
The Bone Demon dodged the Crimson Lotus and was already furious. He swung his Bone Blade and launched a deadly attack.
The Bone Blade exuded an aura of death wherever it struck, almost suffocating Tang Zisu's breath. After a few slashes, her long hair had been severed and her clothes torn, yet the Bone Demon still hadn't harmed her.
Tang Zisu was puzzled, and in a moment of fearlessness, she raised her arm to meet the blade.
Suddenly, she was pulled into a familiar warm embrace. Kong Xuan spun her around and whispered in her ear, "You're seeking death."
Tang Zisu, now clever, whispered back, "I'm not seeking death; I'm seeking you."
Kong Xuan felt his heart race at her words and held her tightly in his arms.
This phrase had its origins; once, after Kong Xuan had been particularly intense with her, the next day Tang Zisu complained that she felt like she was dying and was in pain all over. While saying this, she pressed herself against Kong Xuan, biting and nibbling at him. Kong Xuan immediately pinned her down and gritted his teeth, saying she was seeking death. Tang Zisu knew that Kong Xuan would refrain from being reckless with her body, so while igniting passion between them, she said, "I'm not seeking death; I'm seeking you."
Yes, neither of them wanted to die; they wanted to live well. There were still countless beauties in this world that they had yet to experience—how could they bear to die?
The two were filled with affection for each other but forgot they were in the midst of a battle. The Bone Demon's blade followed closely behind, even more ferocious than before, aimed directly at Kong Xuan.
Kong Xuan and Tang Zisu joined forces against their enemy. Despite being on the brink of life and death, their deep affection for each other was evident, which frustrated the Bone Demon greatly.
Why was that? Tang Zisu guessed correctly; the Bone Demon indeed feared her because she possessed a Buddha's soul while he bore a Buddha's bone—the very bone left behind when Ksitigarbha's physical body was consumed by fire.
Although the Buddha's bone had been corrupted by him, the two beings who simultaneously possessed both bone and soul could not easily kill each other without suffering immense pain.
Seeing the Bone Demon relentlessly attacking Kong Xuan, Tang Zisu naturally did everything to protect her man. Despite his arrogance and pride, he was still handsome—who else would she protect if not him?
The Bone Demon grew impatient; he had no intention of wasting time with this neurotic couple any longer. He opened his mouth and spat out a mass of black mist that quickly ensnared both Tang Zisu and Kong Xuan like a sticky spider web.
Kong Xuan's Phoenix Tail Sword was left in the Heavenly Palace. He pulled out a dagger from his pocket and struck fiercely at the black mist wrapping around Tang Zisu. However, as the blade descended, it felt as if it were cutting through a viscous swamp; although he managed to push the mist back slightly, it clung together like taffy and could not be severed.
Kong Xuan wrapped his fingers around a strand of black mist and quickly said to Tang Zisu, "Hurry, use Crimson Lotus Fire to burn it."
Tang Zisu's Palm Fire was originally a Buddhist flame meant to burn away all karmic obstacles, but when it encountered the dark energy, it was absorbed, rendering it ineffective.
"No way, Kong Xuan, what should we do?"
The dark energy grew heavier and thicker, gradually wrapping around Tang Zisu's chest, making it hard for her to breathe.
Instinctively, she reached to scratch at her chest, pulling at her clothes and the Malachite necklace around her neck. Suddenly, the necklace began to glow and heat up, melting away the dark energy on Tang Zisu's chest.
At that moment, the dark energy had completely surrounded Kong Xuan, and Tang Zisu could feel a force consuming him; she found it increasingly difficult to hold onto his wrist.
Tang Zisu made a quick decision, yanking off the necklace and throwing it into the mass of dark energy surrounding Kong Xuan.
Kong Xuan exclaimed in shock, "No!"
But Tang Zisu's hand was faster than his words. As the Malachite fell into the darkness, it emitted a strange red light that caused the dark energy to retreat in fear. Just then, a long hand from the Bone Demon reached out and grabbed the Malachite. It quickly pulled back its hand, clutching the stone tightly and shouting, "Soul Command Token! So this is the Soul Command Token! It has been in my hands all along while I handed it over to you."
Kong Xuan furrowed his brows tightly, cursing his own woman for being wasteful. But before he could say anything, the Bone Demon unleashed another wave of dark energy. Without the Malachite, they could only watch helplessly as their bodies were gradually enveloped and consumed by the thick blackness that resembled impenetrable ink.
In the midst of the dark energy, the two held each other tightly. Kong Xuan sighed deeply, "Silly Goose, is this really how it ends?"
Tang Zisu caressed his face, "I’m happy because I finally know you still love me."
The dark energy continued to increase in volume and density.
Suddenly, a cry echoed from the sky, its loud and clear sound piercing through the clouds. Kong Xuan tightened his grip on Tang Zisu's hand: "Tang Zisu, don't faint! Peng Yue is here; we are saved!"
The Golden-Winged Roc soared high into the sky, its wings blocking out the sun. Its golden feathers shone like sunlight illuminating the world. Upon seeing Dapeng arrive, the Bone Demon realized something was wrong; it tucked away the Malachite and thought that with the Soul Command Token in hand, they would eventually die anyway and quickly retreated.
Another clear long cry rang out as a circle of bright golden light surrounded its wings. When it landed on the ground, it had already transformed back into human form.
Peng Yue laughed and said, "Xuan, have you really been so beaten down by such a despicable thing that you look this disheveled after three hundred years?"
Tang Zisu felt her ears tingle at the sound; it was incredibly pleasant, like a gentle rain falling on spring flowers in March, warm and delicate.
Kong Xuan grabbed Tang Zisu's head and pulled her back into his embrace, smiling as he spoke to Peng Yue, "I didn't notice; we're almost at Lion Ridge. No wonder that guy ran away when he saw you; he must be afraid of alarming the Tathagata."
Peng Yue replied, "With the sky falling and the earth cracking, it's hard not to cause a stir. I just didn't expect this time to be related to you again. I'm not even the main character; it feels a bit embarrassing." Although Peng Yue wore a low-key smile, his words were as sharp and proud as Kong Xuan's. His gaze on Tang Zisu was friendly yet inscrutable.
Tang Zisu turned her face slightly and smiled at him, feeling a bit awkward seeing her uncle in such a disheveled state.
Peng Yue smiled back at her. His smile was warm but carried an indescribable nobility that made people like him yet hesitate to get too close.
Kong Xuan pressed Tang Zisu's head back into his embrace again and then said sternly to Peng Yue, "Are you planning to let us just stand here?"
Peng Yue chuckled, "You brothers haven't seen each other for hundreds of years. Come on, let's go to Lion Ridge for drinks."
After saying that, Peng Yue transformed into Dapeng, flapping his enormous wings. It seemed he was asking Kong Xuan if he wanted to join. Kong Xuan replied, "It's been a long time since we flew together; I'll come too." With that, wings sprouted from his sides, surrounded by a layer of silver light. He patted Tang Zisu with his wings, signaling her to climb on. Upon seeing Kong Xuan's true form, Tang Zisu was completely stunned.
It was truly a white peacock, as white as snow, with dazzling peacock eyes that resembled blooming winter plums.
Tang Zisu opened her mouth and gently touched Kong Xuan's feathers, being so careful as if afraid of dirtying him. Kong Xuan let out a clear call: "Hurry up; Peng Yue has already flown far away."
Tang Zisu climbed onto the peacock's back and tightly hugged his neck.
Kong Xuan flapped his wings and suddenly soared into the sky. The moist clouds rushed toward them; Tang Zisu felt as if she were on a roller coaster with the wind whistling past her ears. Clouds brushed against her face in clusters, giving her an entirely different sensation from flying on her own.
Kong Xuan hurriedly flapped his wings to catch up with Peng Yue ahead. Peng Yue laughed and said, "Just a few flaps and we'll be there; why are you in such a hurry?"
Kong Xuan replied, "Although this place is not as vast as the fertile lands of Central Earth, at least it's a peaceful spot."
"Well, it's cold and desolate here, indeed a quiet place," Peng Yue said before rushing down and finally landing in front of a mountain village.
Kong Xuan also descended with Tang Zisu, and it turned out to be a rugged and wild mountain area. Suddenly, he felt a pang of discomfort in his heart and stepped forward to support Peng Yue's shoulder, softly saying, "Peng Yue, I'm sorry. If it weren't for me, Nan Sheng wouldn't have died, and you wouldn't have exiled yourself to this bitter place."
Peng Yue pushed Kong Xuan away and said, "My Brother Ming Wang is not someone who admits mistakes or softens up. Everything is in the past; I'm still living well, aren't I? Hurry and take your wife inside; it's cold outside, don't let her catch a chill."
Kong Xuan reached out to support Tang Zisu, who leaned against him and said, "Kong Xuan, I'm feeling dizzy."
Kong Xuan immediately picked her up: "Let's get inside and find a doctor to check on you. You haven't strained yourself, have you?"
Tang Zisu's face grew paler, beads of cold sweat rolling down her forehead. She tightly gripped Kong Xuan's arm and gasped lightly, "Kong Xuan, my stomach hurts."
Peng Yue hurriedly stepped forward: "Quickly bring her inside; let me take a look."
After placing Tang Zisu inside the house, Peng Yue used his magic to heat the bed. He checked Tang Zisu's pulse and said, "It's due to excessive depletion of True Qi. I'll go get some medicine; you stay with her."
Kong Xuan nodded, "Hurry back."
Once Peng Yue left, Kong Xuan took off his shoes and climbed onto the bed to hold Tang Zisu. He gently rubbed her stomach with his hand and softly asked, "Tang Zisu, does it still hurt?"
Tang Zisu's face was still frighteningly pale, but she felt a bit better: "Much better; it's so warm here; it feels really nice."
Kong Xuan noticed that her lower abdomen was slightly protruding. He couldn't help but lean down to press his ear against it. After listening for a while, he said, "Little rascal, you better behave; don't make things difficult for your mother. Otherwise, I'll have to spank you."
Tang Zisu smiled weakly while stroking Kong Xuan's smooth long hair: "He can't understand you; you're just playing music to a cow."
"He definitely understands. Kiddo, move for your dad," Kong Xuan had just finished speaking when Tang Zisu's soft abdomen suddenly moved. Kong Xuan was overjoyed and pointed at that spot: "It moved! It really moved!"
Tang Zisu smiled but then began to cry again.
This is a moment of tears of joy.
Peng Yue entered with the medicine and saw this scene.
Kong Xuan took the medicine and said, "You are really quick. I guess it took quite a bit of running around to gather all these, right?"
Peng Yue replied, "Just drink it first, Xuan Ge. Later, you can bring out a bowl; I still have a few things to say."
Kong Xuan nodded, and Peng Yue stepped out. Tang Zisu furrowed her brows and drank a bowl of bitter medicine before saying worriedly, "Is something wrong? I noticed Peng Yue looked serious."
Kong Xuan touched her face and said, "What are you thinking? In this situation, no one can be happy. Be good; you need to rest well now. I'll watch you sleep."
Tang Zisu still looked worried. "Kong Xuan, are you okay? Don't just focus on me; let Peng Yue check on you too."
Kong Xuan pressed a kiss on Tang Zisu's hand and said in a hoarse voice, "I'm perfectly fine right now; I just want to kiss you." As soon as he finished speaking, his cold lips pressed against Tang Zisu's. Their lips intertwined in a passionate kiss, tender yet familiar enough to soothe her heart.
Kong Xuan, kiss me, kiss me fiercely to chase away my fears and anxieties.
Tang Zisu tightened her arms around Kong Xuan's neck; their lips became even more sensitive and heated. What started as gentle kisses quickly turned into wild searching and tight entanglement.
Tang Zisu, hold me tight; you are still mine, and will always be mine.
Later, Kong Xuan waited until Tang Zisu fell asleep before going out to find Peng Yue.
A Little Demon led him to Peng Yue's room, where Peng Yue was lost in thought while holding a cup of tea, staring out the window with a gloomy expression.
Kong Xuan took the cup from his hand and said, "The tea has gone cold; what’s the point of drinking it now?"
Peng Yue smiled faintly and then pointed to a chair. "Sit down. Xuan Ge, is that woman really carrying your child?"
Kong Xuan raised the corners of his mouth, somewhat displeased. "Did you not see? Am I someone who raises children for others?"
"But it seems that our Phoenix Clan has never had descendants like this, and the other party is a human woman. Just now, when I checked her pulse, it was a boy, and not an egg or a little peacock; he is just like a human baby."
"That's great," Kong Xuan said with a smile. "I was worried that I might end up with an egg or a featherless little bird that would scare her. Now I can rest easy."
"But I still don't understand how you ended up with a child?"
"Peng Yue, your thoughts are too meticulous. We only said that the Phoenix Clan can reincarnate; we never said we couldn't reproduce. Tang Zisu may be a mortal woman, but she has the soul of a deity, so she is naturally different from others. Peng Yue, I have one thing to ask of you; you must promise me."
"What do we need to ask for between brothers? Just say it."
"Take care of her and the child for me."
Peng Yue suddenly stood up from his chair, shook his sleeves, and coldly said, "Why should someone else take care of your woman and child? I won't get involved."
Kong Xuan smiled bitterly. "Peng Yue, I'm begging you. For the sake of the child being from our Phoenix Clan, please look after them. Tang Zisu is somewhat foolish yet very stubborn. I'm afraid if something happens to me..."
Peng Yue suddenly reached out and brushed aside Kong Xuan's hair. "What happened to your eyes? Kong Xuan, what exactly do you want to do? If heaven wants it to happen, it will happen; if the earth wants to sink, it will sink. What does that have to do with you? Just stay at Lion Ridge and take care of your wife and child."
Kong Xuan sighed deeply. "Three hundred years ago, I was plotted against and placed countless lives in peril, but I have never regretted or feared it. However, three hundred years later, he still hasn't let me go and even dragged Tang Zisu into this mess. This I cannot forgive. Even if I don't seek trouble with him, he has already obtained the Soul Command Token and will inevitably release the millions of Demon Souls from the Sealing Pool. As long as I am the Lord of the Demon Realm, I cannot allow him to do this. Do you understand, Peng Yue?"
How could Peng Yue not understand? The dignity and pride of their Phoenix Clan could not be provoked by others.
Peng Yue sighed and said, "Alright, I won't interfere with you, but you mustn't have any accidents. I'm not responsible for your wife and child. Also, whatever happens, don't hide it from me."
Hearing Peng Yue say this, Kong Xuan finally felt relieved. Although there were many things he wanted to discuss with Peng Yue, he wanted to spend more time with Tang Zisu. So he stood up to return to his room but suddenly remembered something at the door. He turned to Peng Yue and said, "By the way, when you have time, go see Huaisu; she has been thinking about you."
Peng Yue smiled but did not speak further. However, Kong Xuan noticed that he had returned to the lonely depth of feeling he had when he first entered.
The feeling of having a heart as dead as ashes yet being forced to live is truly painful!
When Kong Xuan returned to the room, Tang Zisu was still asleep. He gently brushed aside her hair, greedily gazing at her sleeping face, as if he wanted to engrave everything about her in his mind, so that if he were to die and be reincarnated, he could still remember her.
Tang Zisu suddenly opened her eyes and rubbed her sleepy eyes, saying, "You're back."
Kong Xuan lightly kissed her lips and asked, "Are you hungry?"
Tang Zisu nodded and then shook her head. She raised her arms to wrap around Kong Xuan's neck and said, "Come up here; I want you to keep me company."
Kong Xuan pinched her little nose and gently whispered near her ear, "Do you miss me?"
Tang Zisu's cheeks flushed with a rosy hue as she playfully scolded him, "You're annoying."
Kong Xuan lay beside her, their fingers tightly intertwined. He called out her name repeatedly, "Tang Zisu, Tang Zisu, Tang Zisu."
Tang Zisu rested her head on his chest, listening to the steady thump of his heartbeat, feeling very secure.
Outside, it began to snow—not the light dancing snowflakes but a fierce wind tearing through the snow. Just listening made one feel cold to the bone.
However, inside there was a warm heated bed and the beloved man beside her; all this chaos outside seemed to exist solely to highlight this warmth, making it incredibly endearing.
After a long time—long enough for Kong Xuan to think that Tang Zisu had fallen asleep—she finally said, "You should tell me everything now; I don't want to be a silly goose anymore."
Kong Xuan kissed her fingers and replied, "You are my forever silly goose. I'll tell you everything; however, it's a long story. There are too many grievances and disputes in this tale; let's start from the beginning of the chaos of Tianqi."
On a desolate mountain, through wind and snow, under a solitary lamp, there were two perfect beings—a tale of an ancient legend.
Many years ago, the phoenix gave birth to two sons: the peacock and Dapeng. The peacock loved wandering through mountains and rivers while Dapeng preferred reading and writing.
The peacock had always been a solitary creature, disliking contact with others due to its striking appearance. One day, it saw Ksitigarbha toss a seed into the River of Forgetfulness in the Underworld, which grew into a blood-red Manjushahua.
It spoke to the flower, and Kong Xuan thought it was foolish, but later understood that its foolishness was actually a form of dedication and compassion. They became friends.
Ksitigarbha had a regret; during his meditation and transformation, a piece of Buddha's bone was lost. Kong Xuan promised to help him find it, but before he could, the bone found its way back on its own.
It turned out that the Buddha's bone had been stolen, and during an internal conflict among the thieves, they fought each other in a desolate mountain area. The bone fell out of its box and landed on a long-dead skeleton, which surprisingly transformed into a spirit.
The spirit approached Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, asking for enlightenment. Ksitigarbha took him under his wing for cultivation, and he stayed by Ksitigarbha's side for a thousand years. Kong Xuan met him several times and constantly warned Ksitigarbha to be cautious of him, but Ksitigarbha, being kind-hearted, did not believe there were demons he could not enlighten.
Later, when the Tathagata held a grand Buddhist ceremony attended by various Bodhisattvas and selected new Buddhas, the Bone Demon assumed Ksitigarbha would recommend him. To his surprise, Ksitigarbha said he was too aggressive and was a spirit, instead recommending someone else. The Bone Demon was furious and harbored resentment.
At that moment, Kong Xuan clashed with the Tathagata on Snow Mountain. The Heavenly Emperor knew Kong Xuan had become stubborn and could not be controlled, so he sent someone to summon Ksitigarbha. However, Ksitigarbha was absent, and the Bone Demon concealed this information and went to Snow Mountain himself.
Kong Xuan swallowed the Tathagata whole; although both felt some relief from their anger, the Bone Demon falsely conveyed Ksitigarbha's intentions, claiming that Kong Xuan had long been dissatisfied with the Tathagata and should teach him a lesson to humble him. In a fit of rage, the Tathagata indeed trapped Kong Xuan on Spirit Mountain and planted a Bodhi Tree on his back, with roots deeply embedded in Kong Xuan's organs, causing him immense suffering as he became a vessel for the Tathagata.
To save Kong Xuan, Peng Yue fought against the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain. In the end, he agreed to stay behind to listen to the Tathagata's teachings in exchange for Kong Xuan's release. However, the Heavenly Emperor had already spoken to Kong Xuan about this matter. The Tathagata felt he had gone too far but could not bring himself to back down. Thus, he exiled Kong Xuan to the Demon Realm and sealed it off.
For 1500 years, Kong Xuan endured humiliation in the Demon Realm and grew angry that his followers could not enjoy sunlight or rain. During this time, Ksitigarbha visited Kong Xuan several times; Kong Xuan heard that it was Ksitigarbha's idea to plant a tree on his back and gave him cold treatment each time they met. Their relationship gradually soured.
Ksitigarbha also had no time to explain himself because as Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, he suddenly lost one soul and one spirit. This soul fell into Light Eye's body just before he saved Infinite Calamity. Light Eye should have been just a pile of bones; unexpectedly, she emerged from a chaotic flow of time alive and beautiful at eighteen years old.
Ksitigarbha was supposed to capture Light Eye and send her back to Reincarnation but suddenly developed selfish desires and allowed her to live.
Kong Xuan finally broke free from his seal and led the demons into chaos. The three realms were thrown into turmoil as countless innocent lives were lost.
To stop Kong Xuan, Ksitigarbha personally sought him out for negotiations. Still filled with hatred over his suffering from having a tree planted on his back by the Tathagata, Kong Xuan said: "If you can transform into a woman to serve me in bed, I will end this war."
Moved by this thought, Ksitigarbha sent out Light Eye while hiding himself away, treating Light Eye as if she were him.
At this moment, Kong Xuan already wanted to cease fighting. The countless deaths and bloodshed made him feel his own cruelty. Although he had never been defeated, many of the demons under his command had perished frequently. By nightfall, the Demon Palace was silent, with only the sharp sound of the wind howling through.
He had grown weary of war.
Thus, his interactions with Light Eye were merely legends to the outside world, a performance. Yet within this act, he had already developed feelings.
Light Eye also liked him, but she despised her own false identity. She hoped that Kong Xuan could quickly end this war and take her to a place free from the control of mortals and gods, where they could live happily. However, she received orders to seal off the Demon Realm.
In the end, she mixed her blood with Kong Xuan's to write down Kong Xuan's Peacock Great Bright Heart Mantra. Unfortunately, she succumbed to her injuries inflicted by the Broken Army and died, leaving her soul lost.
Originally, this could have marked an end to everything. However, the instigator tasted success; he successfully manipulated the Heavenly Emperor, Tathagata, Ksitigarbha, and Ming Wang at his whim. His ambitions grew bolder as he feared that if things were exposed, he would face dire consequences. He began to yearn for the Heavenly Emperor's throne.
In truth, he had long since allied himself with Azure Palace. He knew that all the gods in Azure Palace were non-human cultivators; only by staying there could he avoid being seen as an anomaly. Thus, another thousand years passed.
His mad plans began to unfold.
To overturn the heavens, he needed someone capable of doing so—Kong Xuan. And to unlock Kong Xuan's seal, he needed someone else—Light Eye.
He lurked in Peacock Valley, approached the Peacock Valley Clan Leader, and devised a plan to seize Light Eye's child, pretending it was born from a lotus flower. Then he would seek out Light Eye's lost soul and bring her into this world.
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