After Transmigrating into an Evil God - Chapter 38

A warm hand touched Mutou’s forehead, smoothing away all his confusion and suffering.

The deity’s voice was like a ray of light:

“What did you see?”

“I don’t know,” Mutou said mournfully.

He couldn’t see or hear anything clearly. Those images were mottled into fragmented patches of color, sounds shattered into indistinct noise. Seeming to cry yet laugh, seeming joyful yet angry—the seven emotions in chaos, disturbing him until his head felt ready to split. Yet he couldn’t help but want to look, to listen, to figure out who exactly he was and why he had fallen into such a state…

Li Chi sighed inwardly.

Mutou was not the soul of that corpse; he had merely inherited some remnant soul fragments.

Within that Soul-Breath Vine coffin were traces of a residual formation, used to protect the Soul-Breath Vine and the person within. Though only traces of the formation remained now, its patterns contained the rhythms of heaven and earth’s natural order. When complete, it must have been extraordinarily intricate and solid.

Yet this Soul-Breath Vine had ultimately been severed brutally. But the one who severed it seemed unable to further damage the formation on the vine coffin, so they simply threw it into this poison pool, borrowing the fierce poison within to corrode it ceaselessly over thousands and tens of thousands of years, ultimately destroying the life of the person within and scattering their soul.

One could only wonder what kind of deep hatred and enmity would drive someone to use such cruel and vicious methods.

Li Chi withdrew his thoughts and said to Mutou, “Though you inherited some remnant soul fragments from this person, you are no longer this person, and the karmic ties no longer connect. If you have no heart to be entangled, then forget it.”

Mutou laughed bitterly. “How can I let it go? I’ve been imprisoned for thousands upon thousands of years, poison liquid on my body, born with such a terrifying appearance. Just to leave my cage, I harmed all the living creatures on the mountain. How can I not know why I must suffer these things? From whom was I born, by whom am I trapped?”

“But even if I want to know, what can I do? I can’t even leave this place!”

Li Chi looked down at Mutou and said, “When you can transform this entire poison pool into yourself, you’ll be able to leave.”

“Transform into myself?” Mutou was bewildered.

This poison pool was large enough to hollow out an entire mountain. He was born from it, suffered because of it—his entire body inside and out was thoroughly soaked in poison liquid. How could he possibly transform it into himself?

“Since you were transformed by the poison pool and cannot escape it, why not reverse it and transform the poison pool instead? Master it, and you’ll master your own comings and goings.”

Mutou still lacked confidence. “Can I do it?”

“The poison pool is a dead thing, but you are alive.”

Li Chi said no more. He raised his head to look at the broken part of the formation on the cave ceiling, circulated his divine power, and connected with the formation.

The damaged formation pulsed gently, slowly changing under the adjustment of divine power, gradually being rewoven to completion, yet transformed into a different appearance.

Li Chi had no intention of repairing this formation to its original state—that would be equivalent to resealing Mutou in this cavern. Moreover, over these thousands of years, the living creatures in the mountain had long grown accustomed to the poison’s existence. If it were suddenly cut off, it might not be a good thing for the mountain’s creatures.

The newly adjusted seal traces hadn’t yet had time to conceal themselves. The formation patterns flowing with faint light interwove among the vines. The bitter vine branches gathered in the cavern trembled slightly a few times, as if nervously yet curiously touching those patterns.

The formation patterns existed as if in another space—they had no reaction and no effect on the bitter vine, continuing to gradually conceal themselves on their own until they could no longer be seen.

“It won’t affect your entry and exit,” Li Chi said.

This formation would only gradually reduce the seepage of poison from the cave. After a sufficiently long time, it would slowly and naturally diminish to nothing.

Perhaps before then, Mutou would have already succeeded in his cultivation, transforming this poison pool that had trapped him for so long into himself, turning it into nourishment for his own body.

Li Chi finally looked down at Mutou one last time. This temporary divine descent body, after repairing the formation, had nearly exhausted its divine power and collapsed into a shower of light, illuminating the entire cavern.

Scattered points of radiance fell down. They scattered into the poison pool, onto the bitter vine’s body, onto Mutou’s body.

Mutou dazedly stretched out his hands to catch them. The warm light rain fell onto his rough, black, ugly palms and gently merged into his palms like spring rain nourishing soil. Unlike the cold, silent decay fireflies, this light rain was warm, brimming with vigorous life force.

The light rain gradually extinguished, and the cave darkened again, yet it seemed no longer so cold.

Mutou curled his fingers.

Whether beautiful or ugly, sunlight shines fairly on everyone.

…

Outside Langyue City, in an inconspicuous corner.

Ding Qin, Jin Yan, and Wen Qianzi’s forms appeared flickeringly.

Wen Qianzi looked around in amazement. Langyue City was a prosperous metropolis that had once been the old capital of Lu Kingdom. Later, when the Huai River changed course, Lu Kingdom moved its capital.

But even so, Langyue City was still one of Lu Kingdom’s most prosperous places.

The city gates were wide, the city walls tall—their top could even accommodate four carriages running side by side. The roads were smooth, lined with green pines on both sides. People entering and leaving the city were orderly in their queues, chatting and laughing relaxedly.

So many people! Wen Qianzi sighed inwardly. It had never left the mountain forests and was seeing such a prosperous scene for the first time. It didn’t know how far they had traveled, but in just a breath or two, they had gone from the secluded mountain forest to such a lively place!

Most importantly: it didn’t feel dizzy at all!

Wen Qianzi happily rolled over. If only the return journey could be like this too!

But Ding Qin paid no attention to Langyue City’s prosperity. She frowned, her expression confused.

“What’s wrong? Are you still thinking about Mutou?” Jin Yan asked.

Ding Qin shook her head. She raised her hand and touched the concealed divine seal on her forehead. “Before sending us here, the High God gave me a divine technique.”

“A divine technique? What divine technique?” Jin Yan asked.

“I don’t know.” Ding Qin shook her head.

This divine technique wasn’t something she had learned herself, but rather sealed by Li Chi within her forehead’s divine seal. Ding Qin could sense that she could use this divine technique, but the number of times was limited. Once the power within was exhausted, this divine technique would disappear as well.

Jin Yan flapped his wings and consoled her quite carelessly, “It’s fine, don’t think about it. Since the High God did this, he naturally has his reasons. We just need to wait.”

Ding Qin nodded. At this moment, some unease arose in her heart, but since she knew nothing, this was all she could do.

She turned to look at the city gate. She didn’t know where Mister Li had walked to by now. They should hurry into the city, otherwise if they ran face-to-face into Mister Li, that would be far too awkward.

….

Wei clan ancestral grounds, eastern small building.

“Qiuning, I’ve successfully achieved human form!”

Li Feng announced joyfully to Wei Qiuning, but Wei Qiuning’s smile was faint, worry predominating.

“I had a dream before,” Wei Qiuning said.

Over ten days ago, she suddenly dreamed of past events. In the dream, a young man in brilliant red robes spoke with ominous implications, leaving her heart troubled with unresolved worry. But before the words in the dream finished, a dark shadow suddenly attacked.

Wei Qiuning saw Li Feng’s face change abruptly, then she was forcefully pushed away. She woke from the dream drenched in cold sweat, her heart pounding like drums in her chest.

Fear submerged her like a tide, but she was confined in the small building. No one in the clan wished for anything but that Li Feng would never come again. Wei Qiuning exhausted all her thoughts, only to discover that besides prayer, all she could do was wait…

“That was an accident,” Li Feng grasped her hand and explained what happened that night. “Such a thing won’t happen again.”

Won’t happen again?

Wei Qiuning looked at him, her lips trembling several times before saying, “Take me away.”

“I will take you away, but not like this.” The young man in brilliant red robes looked at her, those eyes also blazing like fire. “If you want to go out, we’ll see all the mountains and waters. If you want to rest, we’ll return home together. I want you to have somewhere to return when you miss your family. I want you to have no regrets in your heart.”

Wei Qiuning’s eyes reddened. “But what if we can’t?”

Her palms were cold and clammy, her cheeks gaunt. She clutched at Li Feng like clutching gossamer threads about to be torn apart by the wind.

“We’ll have to try first before we say,” Li Feng consoled her.

“I feel uneasy.” Her lips trembled as if she had a thousand words to say, yet didn’t know where to begin.

Li Feng felt Wei Qiuning’s pulse, then covered her eyes with his hand. Magical power surged as he consoled her. “You’ve exhausted your mental energy too much these past days. Sleep for a while first.”

“I don’t want to…” Wei Qiuning said urgently. However, an irresistible drowsiness swept over her mind. Her voice quickly weakened, her eyelids heavily falling.

Li Feng carried the sleeping Wei Qiuning to the bed.

These twenty-some days she had worried day and night without peace. Her spirit had long been overtaxed. If she didn’t rest and recuperate, she would likely fall ill.

Regret rose in Li Feng’s heart. Had he known that day’s dream would affect Qiuning so greatly, he should have found a way to communicate with Qiuning once more. But there was still time now. He had just cast a spirit-calming technique to let Qiuning sleep well. When she woke, everything would be fine.

Li Feng covered her with a thin blanket and sat by the bed, quietly watching for a while that face showing exhaustion even in sleep. He gently arranged her hair, then quietly left the small building.

….

Wei clan, clan leader’s study.

Wei Yu held a visiting card in his hand, his brow furrowed. “Father, let me receive him.”

The Wei clan leader looked at his son. He slowly shook his head, saying word by word, “He has achieved human form.”

Wei Yu’s fingers holding the visiting card immediately tightened. He fell silent for a moment, then said again, “Father, let me receive him.”

The same words, but the tone had already changed.

This time, the Wei clan leader slowly nodded.

…..

The back garden water pavilion. Wei Yu had prepared a wine feast. The food and drink were rare delicacies of exquisite flavor. Only he and Li Feng sat at the table, but neither had touched their chopsticks.

Wei Yu quietly looked at the red-robed young man across from him. He was an ordinary person who couldn’t distinguish between illusion and true transformation. He had seen Li Feng several times before, always in this red-robed young man image—graceful bearing, handsome appearance, inspiring intimacy at first sight.

Human form and illusion—what difference was there really?

Wei Yu examined Li Feng, his gaze calm as an ancient well without ripples. He had once appreciated Li Feng.

When Li Feng first became entangled with Fifth Sister, he too had thought Qiuning’s mind was bewitched, hating that fox demon to the extreme. But after talking with Li Feng once, his attitude had involuntarily changed.

Broadly learned and knowledgeable, gentle and well-mannered—he could be an excellent friend. If it hadn’t involved Fifth Sister, Wei Yu would have been willing to befriend him. However…

Wei Yu was first to break the silence. “Congratulations on achieving human form.”

Li Feng smiled. “Now that I have human form, I’m no different from ordinary people. I can purchase a residence in the city, establish a household, conduct daily life—all the same as anyone.”

Wei Yu composed his brow. “I’ve heard that for demon cultivators, achieving human form is an extremely rare and important threshold on the cultivation path. Brother Li has just arduously reached this point on the great Dao, yet you want to stop—don’t you find it regrettable?”

Li Feng’s eyes were clear and bright. “Having both is rare in this world. I don’t seek to have both, only to have a single heart.”

Wei Yu was silent for a moment, then continued asking, “How long does Brother Li plan to continue this?”

His tone was gentle, but this question contained hidden barbs.

How long? This was an almost impossible question to answer.

Qiuning had no aptitude for cultivation. A mortal’s lifespan was merely a hundred years. But Li Feng was a fox demon who had cultivated for several hundred years. Even if his cultivation stagnated from now on, his remaining lifespan far exceeded a mortal’s.

Mortals grow old and frail. When Qiuning became aged and decrepit, would his current deep feelings remain unchanged?

If he could, then what about after Qiuning died?

How long would he grieve? And after grieving?

Would he return to his own path of cultivation and longevity?

Wei Qiuning’s lifetime of devotion was merely a brief episode on his path to immortality.

The impact on several generations of the Wei clan was merely a few ups and downs on his cultivation journey.

How long. Wei Yu looked at Li Feng. Would he answer, until Wei Qiuning died?

But Li Feng only smiled calmly. “To forcibly promise forever would be to deceive with false words. I don’t seek to have both, only to cherish each day and night. If my heart remains unchanged, there will be day after day, night after night.”

Wei Yu was silent for a moment, then asked, “Your heart remains unchanged?”

Li Feng nodded, his gaze firm as rock.

Wei Yu sighed softly, “Can you truly do it?”

Though this question pressed, it was yielding and making concessions.

Joy appeared in Li Feng’s eyes as he firmly replied, “Of course!”

Wei Yu’s expression seemed to soften. He pondered for a moment, but seemed unable to decide what to say, so he simply raised his cup to Li Feng in gesture and drank the wine.

Three years of bitter waiting would finally bear good fruit. Li Feng’s heart was joyful. He hurriedly raised his cup and drained the wine in one gulp.

Wei Yu set down his wine cup and looked at Li Feng. His previously gentle gaze gradually grew calm. “Brother Li, as a fox demon with a long lifespan, since you don’t mind delaying your cultivation these few decades with my fifth sister, surely delaying another three to five years now is nothing.”

“You…” Li Feng was shocked. He wanted to ask, but after uttering just one word, he had no strength left to voice the rest. All his strength seemed drained as his body went limp.

Alarmed and angry, he braced himself against the table trying to stand, but had no strength left. After swaying twice, he collapsed to the ground.

Wei Yu didn’t move, only sitting there quietly waiting.

This wine was called Three Lives Drunk—both wine and medicine. Three Lives Drunk could neither cure illness nor harm people, so it couldn’t trigger a cultivator’s keen senses, much less be resisted. Three Lives Drunk would only make the drinker deeply drunk for three years, sleeping in long dreams.

Wei Yu had indeed appreciated Li Feng at first, but no matter how much appreciation, worn down over three years, inevitably turned to irritation.

He had originally believed that Fifth Sister, born and raised in the Wei clan with blood ties so strong, would eventually break with Li Feng. But he hadn’t expected Fifth Sister to resist the family for three full years.

Wei Yu didn’t understand—had the Wei clan treated her poorly in any way?

Regarding the clan school and library pavilion matters, the clan had already made concessions. Even if the marriage arrangement wasn’t entirely satisfactory, he and Father had already selected the best possible match. She could be a noble lady, wearing brocade and silk, eating delicacies, with servants attending her comings and goings, her conduct earning good reputation. A life of wealth, honor, peace, and safety—wasn’t that good?

Originally everything should have been this way. But now… Wei Yu looked down at Li Feng.

He didn’t understand why Fifth Sister wouldn’t yield a step, but he understood for whom Fifth Sister did this.

Li Feng came from Qingqiu’s Li clan. He wouldn’t do anything to him. Three years of time was nothing to a fox demon with a long lifespan.

But three years was enough time for Qiuning to believe a story, accept a reality, change her mind.

If three years wasn’t enough, he’d make him drink another cup of Three Lives Drunk. Eventually, Qiuning would understand.

Wei Yu waited for Li Feng to fall drunk into dreams. But Li Feng, collapsed on the ground, suddenly showed a pained expression and coughed up a mouthful of purple-black blood!

This originally harmless Three Lives Drunk acted like virulent poison, causing his qi to rapidly deteriorate. He looked about to die!