After Transmigrating into an Evil God - Chapter 27

Chi Zhenzi had come in pursuit of an evil demon.

This evil demon had harmed countless people and had fled all the way here while being pursued by him, seeking this remote place with few powerful cultivators. As it turned out, the demon’s calculation was wrong.

Chi Zhenzi had not initially noticed the cultivator dressed as a white-robed scholar, not until the other’s gaze fell upon him.

That gaze saw through him completely, like a clear, penetrating icy spring pouring down from above his head, nearly making him shiver.

Following the gaze, he discovered the white-robed cultivator who had been concealed among the crowd like an ordinary person.

The white-robed cultivator gazed back calmly, nodded at him with a smile, and walked past with leisurely steps, disappearing into the passing crowd in an instant. Yet Chi Zhenzi couldn’t help but stop and look back.

That cultivator had no spiritual energy fluctuations whatsoever, yet his aura was so clear and pure as to be rarely seen in the world. Having concealed himself so well before, unless he revealed himself voluntarily, Chi Zhenzi would have been completely unable to detect him.

Chi Zhenzi had detected no malice in the other’s gaze, so was this an advance warning not to cause trouble?

Indeed, though he was no top-tier cultivator, in this remote Shuigu Town, he could be considered a rare strong practitioner.

Though Shuigu Town was located on the border of Lu Kingdom, there were few garrison troops stationed there, simply because the nearby Daqing Mountain range formed a natural barrier. The population was sparse, so there were few divine path practitioners who needed incense and faith, and spiritual energy was insufficient, thus there were also few immortal path cultivators.

Yet unexpectedly, he could still encounter such a person here.

Chi Zhenzi was inwardly surprised, though his face showed nothing.

His purpose here was to eliminate the demon, and he would have no conflict with that mysterious and powerful cultivator. Since that cultivator had warned him, presumably he would not allow the demon to run amok either.

That demon could hide in the gaps between dreams. He had pursued it all this way, but at each critical moment the demon had escaped. If the demon fled into the Daqing Mountain range, it would truly be difficult to find again. Perhaps… he could still seek that cultivator’s help.

After considering this, Chi Zhenzi turned and entered Shuigu Town.

…….

Ten days passed in a flash, and Li Feng had returned from the Langyue Wei clan. He planned to rest in Shuigu Town tonight and return to Li Manor tomorrow.

The moon was bright and stars sparse, human lights flickering below.

Li Feng crouched on a rooftop, looking up at the moon hanging high in the sky.

On one side was the path of Dao, on the other was deep affection.

One as high as the sun and moon in the heavens, the other as warm as candlelight in the heart.

Calamity, calamity—was calamity truly so terrifying? Was it truly… unavoidable?

Li Feng bit his teeth, his fox eyes wide and round.

But he knew in his heart that the calamity was real, otherwise the clan elder and High God Li Chi would not have warned him together.

The elder’s words rang clearly in his ears, yet he still wanted to argue:

“Qiuning has no cultivation aptitude. I can only accompany her for a mere hundred years.”

“How lightly you speak! With your feelings this deep, when the day comes that her lifespan ends, will you truly be able to let go? How much of your heart for seeking the Dao remains now?”

High God Li Chi’s lofty and magnificent bearing had reawakened his heart for seeking the Dao. The days in the mountains were pure and joyful, yet his heart was torn between two attachments.

In the mountains he thought of Qiuning; at the Wei estate he excitedly told Qiuning about encountering such an impressive deity.

“Seeking the Dao is difficult, and traveling back and forth is too hard. You don’t need to make the journey every month—once every three months would be fine.” Qiuning had said this to him.

She was sincere, those clear eyes full of understanding and acceptance, yet it was like a bucket of ice water poured over Li Feng’s head, chilling him body and soul.

What did this make him? And where did it place Qiuning? He was already walking the path of seeking the Dao. If he wanted to seek the Dao, then he should properly seek it—why had he involved Qiuning? And having involved her, how could he then demand that she accept his coldness?

He had not thought clearly before pursuing her, yet now their feelings ran deep, his heart for seeking the Dao remained, so how should he choose?

The red fox with brilliant fur lowered his gaze, his expression both bitter and sweet.

The night deepened, the moon brightened, the wind grew colder.

Li Feng curled up to sleep, unknowingly entering a dream.

In the gaps between dreams, a blurred shadow suddenly swept past. The karmic thread on Li Feng’s body, tinted with pink, trembled.

……

In the early morning, the air carried a chill, the sunlight still dim.

He was secretly reading in the Wei clan’s library pavilion.

At this time of day, there was usually no one in the library pavilion, because the light was too dim and fire was not permitted among so many books. But light had no effect on Li Feng.

He lay on the ground reading, gradually becoming absorbed.

Later, he was startled awake by another sound and turned his head to see a young lady standing beside the bookshelf, having watched for who knows how long.

Li Feng was so frightened he jumped up and fled. In that instant when their eyes met, he saw in her eyes a stunning red shadow.

Fur as brilliant as flames, a fluffy tail soft and relaxed, beautiful as the most vivid maple among the autumn mountains covered in red leaves.

Was this how he looked in Qiuning’s eyes?

Li Feng understood in a flash. He had clearly already leaped out of the library pavilion, yet still saw the scene within.

This was not his dream—this was Qiuning’s dream.

He saw that after he left, Qiuning walked over and curiously flipped through the book he had left on the ground.

He heard her thoughts. She was marveling that the profound and obscure passages in that book far exceeded her own learning.

She was hoping—when she came to the library pavilion again in the future, would she have another chance to encounter the red fox?

……

Wei Qiuning had another dream. She dreamed of Li Feng again, dreamed of their first meeting.

That brilliant flash of red, like vigorous, thriving fire, ignited her life that had been as withered and stagnant as a pool of dead water.

Intelligent, gentle, chaste, refined—these were all words others used to praise her.

But except for the first one, she didn’t want any of the other three.

She wanted to study like her father and brothers, but no teacher was willing to instruct her. She wanted to ride horses galloping like men did, but her family always prepared a carriage for her. She wanted to laugh freely, to get drunk, to rise and dance when joyful, to draw her sword and challenge when angry.

But she was a noble daughter of the Wei clan. She had to be gentle, she had to be chaste, she had to be refined. She had a father and brothers who doted on and protected her. Her feet need not travel farther than from the courtyard to the carriage. Her hands need not lift anything heavier than books, brushes, and embroidery frames.

Those treasuring affections and loves, expectations and protections, were like soft silk, wrapping her layer upon layer until not a breath could pass through. And all her strength, when pushed to the end, was left with only books and brush.

But Li Feng was different. He was like a warm, bright fire.

He said: “You are so intelligent—how can that be wasted? Why should learning be divided by gender? If you want to learn, I’ll teach you.”

He said: “You’ve been constrained too long. Even your calligraphy is suppressing itself, forgetting your true nature and character. How painful that must be! I have fine calligraphy models that would suit you perfectly.”

He said: “You’ve lived too long in this small tower, too stifled, and your thoughts are so delicate. Why not seek your own path through the strategy of chess? I have a good friend who plays well. If you’re interested, I’ll ask her to teach you.”

He said: “Qiuning, my heart delights in you.”

……

“Qiuning…” In the dream, the young man in brilliant red clothing asked her with a trembling voice, “If we cannot be together, what will you do?”

“Then I shall never marry.”

She looked at the bitterness and sweetness in his eyes, and her heart suddenly ached. She blurted out. “Take me away with you. Just pretend… that the Wei clan’s daughter has already died.”

A blurred shadow suddenly lunged at her. The young man in bright, vivid clothing across from her changed expression and forcefully pushed her away.

Wei Qiuning awoke with a start, her cold fingers clutching her robe, a tremendous unease rising in her heart.

……

That attacking shadow moved too fast. Li Feng had no time to think and instinctively pushed Qiuning out of the dream.

This dream was constructed jointly by the two of them. Now with one missing, the dream suddenly became unstable.

That shadow abruptly stopped and glared viciously at him. Before Li Feng could see clearly—only vaguely making out an animal with a very long nose—the shadow directly darted away.

The dream wavered, and Li Feng felt his footing unstable. Though he too was a fox skilled in dream illusion techniques, he had never experienced such a dream—not only unable to control it, but it seemed about to harm him instead.

Just as Li Feng was about to forcefully break free, he suddenly heard an explosive shout. “Demon!”

A gray-robed old daoist appeared somehow in this collapsing dream and chased after that long-nosed shadow.

But that shadow seemed very familiar with dreams and vanished in a flash. Whatever it did before leaving made the dream collapse even more severely, and Li Feng could no longer control it.

As the old daoist swept past him, he reached out and grabbed at him.

When Li Feng opened his eyes again, he found himself back in reality. A gray figure swept past beside him, and before long returned to the rooftop—it was the old daoist who had brought him out of the dream.

“Li Feng thanks the immortal elder for his rescue.” Li Feng bowed in gratitude.

The old daoist nodded and asked, “What did that demon do in your dream?”

Li Feng answered truthfully.

The old daoist frowned and said, “It seems that demon wanted to use your connected dreams to escape this place. You and the other person have too deep an attachment, making your dreams easily connected and exploited by that demon. You’d best leave soon. That demon is not benevolent and has already killed countless people. If it truly manages to escape through your dream, the person on the other side will likely also fall victim to its poison hand.”

Frightened by this, Li Feng nodded. “I’ll leave immediately. Does the immortal elder know how to guard against that demon?”

The old daoist shook his head. “If I knew, I wouldn’t have been entangled with it for so long. I’m pursuing it closely, so recently this demon cannot leave Shuigu Town. Don’t come here—it’s best to stay far away from this place.”

Seeing Li Feng nod in agreement, he said no more and disappeared.

Li Feng hurriedly traveled through the night, leaving Shuigu Town and running all the way back to Li Manor.

Though dawn had not yet broken, he could no longer sleep.

He was thinking about that dream.

He realized the dream had connected with Qiuning’s dream, and from it heard Qiuning’s heart. Her bone-deep feelings shook his spirit, making him unable to stop himself from asking.

And then she said to take her away.

That was the first time Qiuning had spoken such words.

Three years ago, he could have taken Qiuning away. Few things in the world are perfect, yet sometimes one wants to seek having it both ways.

Feelings deep in the bone are hard to sever, but how could familial affection and kinship be easily abandoned? Rather than let Qiuning be confined to her small tower for three years unable to leave, he had neglected his cultivation and stayed at the Wei estate, enduring coldness and visiting countless times over three years to propose—wasn’t it all to forcefully seek this bit of having both?

So many things in the world—forcefully seeking both ends with neither gained, seeking to the end with both hands empty.

The truth Qiuning had already understood—could he still not understand it?

……

The next day at dawn, Li Feng went to pay respects to Li Chi again.

“High God, I request transformation!”

Li Chi sat cross-legged on the great blue stone, his half-closed eyes opening like a clear mirror illuminating both inner and outer. “Your cultivation is insufficient. Forcing transformation will likely leave flaws. Even if they can be remedied, it will require countless years. Do you understand?”

“Li Feng understands.”

“The path ahead cannot be regretted, calamity cannot be avoided. Do you understand?”

“Li Feng understands.”

“You have decided?”

“Li Feng is certain.”

The red fox kowtowed. The karmic thread of attachment on his body trembled violently, condensing solid as a bowstring. The surrounding ominous karmic threads tainted with gray-black also grew solid, making that pink-tinted karmic thread even more brilliant red, almost as if soaked in blood.

“Very well,” Li Chi said.

“Forcing transformation carries its own dangers. Your aura is damaged—go adjust your energy first.” Having spoken, Li Chi closed his eyes again.

Li Feng kowtowed in thanks and withdrew from the courtyard.

Jin Yan was extremely anxious. He chased after, wanting to scold this fellow awake.

Earlier, when Li Feng had come running over at dawn acting foolishly, requesting the High God help him transform, Jin Yan had wanted to speak up to dissuade him.

However, High God Li Chi’s aura was vast and lofty, ultimately making him not dare to speak.

Though the High God was usually warm and approachable, allowing his chatterbox ways, the High God was ultimately still a High God, whose dignity made one not dare act presumptuously.

Jin Yan dared not defy the High God, so he could only direct his efforts at Li Feng.

But Li Feng went to teach Ding Qin. Though he wished to force his transformation, with the High God’s help he need not worry about failure, but the cultivation path was ultimately walked by oneself. How many or few flaws remained after transformation still depended on himself.

Energy was easy to adjust, but state of mind was hard to calm. Having just made his decision, his emotions rose and fell in waves. It was perfect to use these twenty days of teaching Ding Qin to harmonize his state of mind.

Li Feng had just arrived at Ding Qin’s courtyard when Jin Yan caught up with him.

“You’re insane!” Jin Yan shouted anxiously. “How could you suddenly make such a decision? What about the calamity? Do you have a solution?”

But Li Feng was smiling, his eyes full of warm affection. “Calamity doesn’t necessarily mean death. I’ll just break through it.”

“How lightly you speak!” Jin Yan glared at him. “Throughout history, how many cultivators have died in calamity, body destroyed and Dao dispersed! Others avoid it like the plague, yet you rush headlong in without rhyme or reason! Do you have a solution or not? It’s not too late to regret now!”

“I don’t regret it,” Li Feng said.

Jin Yan saw his mind was set and forcefully scratched at the tree branch under his claws, saying, “You, you… Alas! If worst comes to worst, go beg the High God and see if there’s any way to resolve this calamity.”

Li Feng shook his head. “I’ve cultivated for so long and have several protective treasures. Thank you for worrying about me, but the calamity is my own, and only I can break through it.”

Jin Yan naturally understood this principle, but when it concerned a friend, how could he feel at ease?

Ding Qin had been silent for a long while before asking Li Feng, “Teacher, is the joy of hearing the Dao not as good as the pleasure of romantic love?”

The little mouse attending the lesson also raised its head.

Li Feng could not answer with yes or no. He raised his head to look at the sky, his eyes squinting into narrow slits from the sun’s brilliance. “The years rush by like arrows, the sun’s radiance shines bright and clear. You both know the meaning of this phrase.”

Ding Qin and the little mouse nodded together. This phrase was from the Thousand Character Classic, saying that years speed by like arrows, hastily urging people to age, while only the sun’s radiance eternally illuminates.

Ding Qin’s learning had long surpassed this level. The little mouse had learned by fortunate chance—though literate, it didn’t understand texts and only knew one Thousand Character Classic.

Li Feng continued. “When cultivators gaze toward the Dao, it’s like mortals looking up at the sun. Sunlight is warm, shining on my body, making my heart joyful. The mighty sun is majestic, hanging high above, making me reverent and admiring. The sun shines on countless beings, but how many people can actually catch up to the sun? The sun is eternal, but people will grow old.”

Jin Yan, still unwilling to accept this, heard these words and sighed, spreading his wings and flying away.

Seeking the Dao was lonely, dangerous, and full of hardships. Li Feng’s heart for seeking the Dao had weakened—what could he say to persuade him?

Ding Qin listened silently. Her lips moved as if puzzled, but ultimately she didn’t ask.

After today’s lesson ended, Ding Qin sought out Li Chi. After recounting this matter, she asked in confusion, “High God, I feel Teacher Li’s words make great sense, yet also feel something is wrong.”

“Then what do you think it should be?” Li Chi asked.

After thinking for a moment, Ding Qin said, “The great Dao is difficult to seek, so one must focus with single-minded determination and advance courageously. Only then can the great Dao be within reach. If one’s attention is divided, that’s when there’s truly no hope.”

Li Chi asked her again, “What is Dao? And where is it?”

Ding Qin thought hard for a long time but could not answer.

Teacher Li said Dao was like the sun and moon in the sky, but the sun and moon in the sky were not the Dao. Her cultivation toward the Dao was absorbing spiritual energy and accumulating knowledge, but spiritual energy and knowledge were not the Dao. She was born with spirit eyes that could observe the spiritual essence of heaven and earth, but spiritual essence was not the Dao either.

What was Dao? And where was it?

Li Chi smiled. “If you don’t even know where the Dao is, what are you advancing toward?”

Ding Qin thought again. “The great Dao is sublime and difficult to seek. Naturally I don’t know what the Dao is right now. When I know and find the Dao, that will be when I’ve achieved the Dao.”

But Li Chi shook his head. “If you think this way, you’ll never know or find the Dao.”

“The Dao is walked beneath one’s feet.”