He and It Chapter 188: Inquire Here (16)

Chapter 188: Inquire Here (16)

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: GaeaTiamat

 

If Liu Fuguang were a braver, nobler person, he thought, he would immediately begin to rectify the great mistakes made over the past six thousand years, accept Yan Huan’s apologies, neutralize the evil, dispel the remnants of impurity from everyone’s hearts and bodies…he could do it. After all, from the very beginning, it was destined for him to do all that, to make up for the mistakes once committed by the Immortals.

Of course, initially, he did indeed act in that way. He was attracted to that distorted and incomplete Dragon God, poured out his love and compassion unreservedly, and charged forward beneath the cliff. However, it was precisely because he was such an untimely fool, that he could only think of evasion and hiding at the most critical moments. Exhausted in spirit, he could no longer muster the fiery passion of his youth.

Sometimes, Liu Fuguang would even ironically think that part of the reason he fell in love with Yan Huan was because only Yan Huan could withstand his feelings and love.

He was silent for a long time, as his tears streamed sadly. 

When Yan Huan saw that, he immediately set aside his pulsating dragon heart, and said in an incoherent rush, “You…you don’t want my heart? Okay! It’s fine! It doesn’t matter! I still have your primordial spirit here…nurturing it within my body all along, preserving it well…”

As he spoke, Yan Huan anxiously groped inside his body, as he plunged his hands deeply into the gaps between his nine eyes, and tore open a curtain-like fissure. Compared to the previous search for his heart, his movements that time were exceedingly cautious and delicate, and he handled it with utmost care.

A golden-white radiance emanated from his body as he tenderly presented a clear, translucent object that resembled crystal, and said with a careful smile, “Look…look, Fuguang! Let me heal you. After I heal you, you won’t hurt anymore…”

Yan Huan’s words were not in vain. The primordial spirit that had been forcibly separated from him radiated a brilliant light, even more dazzling than when it was inside him. However as Liu Fuguang looked at it, his heart harbored only deeper sorrow and chill.

So many years had passed..He still remembered those days of anticipation and waiting. His heart always beat quietly with anticipation, as he waited for Yan Huan’s response, waited to become a more complete person, waited for the day when Yan Huan could let go of all his defenses and pretenses, and treat him sincerely and openly.

Unfortunately, when he got what he had waited for, there was no need to elaborate further.

“I only want you to come back. What more could I ask for…” Yan Huan pleaded with wide eyes. “I don’t want anything else, I just want to heal you…I could feel that you were still alive, so I searched everywhere for you for so long…” His words were disjointed. “Now that you’re back, I’m so happy! Even if you kill me..make me jump into the sea, jump into fire, I’ll be ecstatic..No, no! If you really killed me, I would be happiest in my heart…”

“Don’t say those things to me, Yan Huan.” Liu Fuguang closed his eyes wearily. “I’ve always treated you wholeheartedly, without any concealment or deception. However, at that moment when you struck me, what were you really thinking?”

Slowly, he raised his left hand. Lifted the finely carved, jade-like, little finger, where a faint, brown mark remained at its base, like the ashes left after the flames burned out.

“We are no longer Dao companions,” Liu Fuguang said softly. “The red thread of fate has been severed. You and I, we can never be husband and wife for eternity.”

Yan Huan stood frozen in place, his breathing halted. In his ears, the world momentarily fell silent, as if dead quiet.

“We are no longer Dao companions.” “The red thread has been severed.” “We can never be husband and wife for eternity.”

Liu Fuguang’s voice was so light and ethereal, because his frail body couldn’t support speaking loudly and forcefully. Yet those words were so sharp, so painful, that they caused Yan Huan to tremble uncontrollably, as he burst into fractures from the inside out.

The Dragon God no longer shed tears, he was burning in agony. Hot black blood kept surging from between his lips. Yan Huan continued to hold out the Dao-heart, but his waist involuntarily bent in half. He hung his head and coughed intermittently as if he were trying to expel all his flesh and viscera.

“You say you only want to heal me. Fine, I accept that. I have no reason not to.” Liu Fuguang’s gaze became foggy. “But if you want anything else, I’m unable to give it. It’s been so long since everything happened, what’s the use of dwelling on it?”

Liu Fuguang’s breathing gradually began to shake. That wasn’t something he’d expected. He’d thought his tears had already run dry during his six thousand years in the coffin.

A desolate silence spread between them. After what seemed like a long time, Yan Huan finally spoke. His mouth was full of blood, and his voice was hoarse, “I…repaid kindness with resentment, and I did wrong. I didn’t understand what love was. Before you, I hated the true Immortals, hated the world, and hated myself the most. After all, I am such a pitiful, detestable evil deity…”

He paused blankly for a moment, then continued, “And you, you were…you were my lover. I didn’t understand before, but I understand now. Meeting you was truly the best thing in my life. I know you no longer need my guilt, no longer need my answers. My feelings may also bring you shame, but I have to tell you, you…I apologize to you. You did nothing wrong. I already loved you before I realized it, but I was too dull and too foolish.”

Liu Fuguang’s eyelashes trembled, but he said nothing.

The moment hardly seemed real because Yan Huan never apologized. Doing evil was as normal to him as eating and drinking. It was almost a physiological need. He never spoke of love either.

“You are brave, kind, generous, and resilient…Fate threw the worst ugliness in the world at me, but I think it has finally shown mercy on me. Being with you, even if only for a fleeting moment—I can’t tell you how lucky I feel.” Yan Huan murmured. “It was my failure that I didn’t cherish it. By the time I learned to do so, it was too late. It feels like my whole life has been spent in disarray.”

He lifted his eyes, focused with all nine eyes, as if he were gathering all the madness in the world.

“You don’t love me…it’s okay, really! I don’t mind, not at all.” Tears as murky as blood flowed from Yan Huan’s eyes. He knelt deeply, like he was worshipping a long-broken idol. “I just want you to be safe. Let me heal your wounds, let you become the proud son of the heavens you once were; envied by all. Stay. Give me a chance to atone. I beg you, I beg you…”

During the unbearable silence, Liu Fuguang still said nothing.

With tears in his eyes, he gazed sorrowfully at his Dao-heart, as if he were staring into a mirror that could lead to the past.

*

At the same time, Meng Xiaotang soared through Tang Valley.

Tang Valley, the land of the sunrise long occupied by the Dragon God, was almost like a divine kingdom. Normally, mortals would find it extremely difficult to move an inch in a divine realm, let alone use spiritual power. Yet since she held the severed hair gifted by Liu Fuguang, it seemed to grant her unrestricted access there – as if a path was opened by him. Flying all the way, she encountered no attacks from ghost beasts, though one lingered behind her relentlessly, and was impossible to shake off. She was terrified at first, but when she saw that the ghost beast was merely following, her fears gradually eased.

When she thought of Liu Fuguang, Meng Xiaotang couldn’t help but feel uneasy and full of mixed emotions.

Brother Fuguang…who was he really? Senior brother and Xue Li from Ninefold Palace both said he was deeply involved with the Ghost Dragon, and unlikely to end well. Even the true Immortal Zhou Yi called him “Immortal Lord.” What kind of identity did he have before? Now that his dantian was shattered, his remaining years would be few, yet he was willing to personally negotiate with the Dragon God for them. That was a resolve only someone prepared for death could muster.

Meng Xiaotang gritted her teeth, and wiped away the tears from her cheeks while still in midair.

Why cry like this? She scolded herself inwardly. Don’t waste time. Find the sect as soon as possible, and don’t let down his efforts.

As she flew within the Dragon Palace, she felt like a tiny insect unable to find an exit. Strangely, she felt like that vast and magnificent Dragon Palace resembled a colossal living creature. Every intricately textured black tile and brick seemed to exude a faint crimson hue.

Finally, the heart connecting coins fell into her palm again. After countless wrong paths and dead ends, it pointed out a clear direction, and pierced through the layers of mist and before Meng Xiaotang appeared an extraordinarily majestic and unparalleled hall.

Was her sect imprisoned there?

She looked left and right, but saw no sign of her senior brother or the other two. Meng Xiaotang didn’t care anymore. She closed her eyes, steeled herself and charged toward the entrance. However, halfway there, an unparalleled surge of demonic energy swept over, and knocked her from the clouds. She tumbled dizzily for a while before she miraculously regained her flight path.

Naturally, it was all thanks to the protection of her immortal treasure. Without it, she would have been reduced to dust, her soul shattered to pieces long ago.

Within the bloody, misty, black clouds, a sinister and mocking voice rang out, “Who would have thought a little disciple from the Heavenly Yin and Yang Sect would venture here? Take a good look – isn’t that the little girl mentioned by the Supreme? Using some trickery to find her way to the treasure vault! Is that why you’ve come?”

Six thousand years under the radiance of the Evil Sun had ushered in an era of chaos and calamity, where the demonic cultivators were destined to rise. Despite the presence of true Immortals across generations, there were no demons. That was precisely because of the Ghost Dragon’s intervention. When the Dragon God presided over the utmost evil and awakened every few hundred years, true Immortals could hide, but demons couldn’t conceal themselves. In Yan Huan’s nine eyes, even the strongest demon was merely a mass of condensed malevolent qi, to be dispersed with a flick of his tail. He had no intention of giving demons below the level of Heaven’s true demons a chance to rise.

Therefore, demonic cultivators following the Ghost Dragon typically reached at most the Mahayana stage. Those at the tribulation crossing stage had long retreated to their own immortal caves, and avoided rushing to their deaths before the Ghost Dragon.

The division of cultivation bases was as distinct as heaven and earth. Standing before her, was a demonic cultivator that could have been at the golden core stage or even the Mahayana realm, while she was relying on immortal treasures to catch her breath. As she gripped the severed hair in her hand, Meng Xiaotang summoned the courage to tremulously say, “So, are you all here guarding this place because the Ghost Dragon ordered you to? Like me, you’re just ordinary people rushing to guard the treasure vault. Who do you think you’re showing face to?”

Her comment hit the mark, and instantly enraged the demonic cultivator across from her. Indeed, Yan Huan hadn’t instructed them to guard the vault entrance. He hadn’t uttered a word or even given a glance to the demonic cultivators following him. They were blind followers of the Dragon God who were beneath his notice, like ants.

Thus, it was those demonic cultivators who had come there to ingratiate themselves. Having witnessed Yan Huan’s supernatural prowess in effortlessly subduing two immortal sects and casually depositing them in this place, they took the initiative to guard the temple gates under the pretext of “what if the captives escape,” with the intention of flattering him. Now, with just a single remark from a young girl, their indignation flared up, and they devised countless tortures to inflict upon Meng Xiaotang.

When she felt the sudden fierce wind, Meng Xiaotang cried out in shock. In her panic, she held up the handful of copper coins and the strands of severed hair in an attempt to defend herself.

Shockingly, it wasn’t the angry demonic cultivators, but the ghostly beasts gathered behind her, who were the first to unleash a ferocious roar and charge straight ahead! Halfway through her cry, Meng Xiaotang’s voice choked, as she stared speechlessly at the scene before her.

As creatures born of the Dragon God’s flesh and blood, those ghostly beasts undoubtedly outranked the demonic cultivators from the human race that were present. When she saw those cultivators, who lost their courage at the first sign of trouble, Meng Xiaotang couldn’t find the words to describe it.

She stared at the strands of black hair in her hand, and became even more perplexed about Liu Fuguang’s identity. However, time waited for no one. Without further delay, she hurried towards the grand gates of the treasure vault, but before she could formulate a plan, doors on all sides suddenly swung open.

Not only were there guards at the gates, but there were also ones who were bringing pillows? Meng Xiaotang was bewildered, but she didn’t slow down. She dashed into the Dragon God’s palace, a place used for collecting wealth, and felt as though she had plunged into an endless abyss. Darkness surged from all directions like tidal waves, and blinded her. Only the hair in her hands emitted a faint, moon-like glow, that provided her with some strength.

Guided by that faint light, Meng Xiaotang threw her heart connecting coins repeatedly. Time seemed immeasurable inside the Dragon God’s treasury, where she felt like she had wandered for years, until she finally spotted two small white dots in the distance.

They were the guardian immortal cultivators of the Ninefold Palace and the Heavenly Yin and Yang Sect. Even imprisoned in the Dragon God’s lair, they still radiated a celestial light.

“Master!” Meng Xiaotang almost cried tears of joy, and she called out as she ran forward with all her might. “Wait for me, I’ll rescue you!”

The eyes of the true Immortal of Abundance quivered slightly. Astonished, he opened his eyes to see a young disciple bouncing around below him, as she chirped and waved something.

The Immortal Snow Sword also opened his eyes. He watched expressionlessly for a moment before he abruptly asked, “Is that yours?”

The chains clattered as the true Immortal of Abundance floated to the ground. He couldn’t discern any illusion or deception – she was indeed a young girl, and she seemed vaguely familiar…

“How did you, a child of only the foundation establishment stage, manage to get in here?” the true Immortal of Abundance exclaimed incredulously. “Did Zhou Yi send you? This is absurd! Your cultivation base is so low, it is almost indistinguishable from a mortal. What were you thinking coming here? You should leave immediately!”

Both immortals were bound and confined within semi-transparent bubble-like prisons. Meng Xiaotang, oblivious to his words, eagerly focused on releasing them.

“Let me see…” she muttered, as she circled the prison before realizing that even the true Immortal couldn’t break it. What could she possibly do? After much thought, she took out Liu Fuguang’s hair, and, treating it like a universal elixir, attempted to stick it onto the bubble.

Like snow melting in fire, like salt dissolving in water, the seemingly indestructible prison turned into ephemeral foam, and dissipated in the air with a gurgling sound.

The true Immortal’s eyes widened in shock.

Meanwhile, Sun Yinian approached from another direction. Upon seeing Meng Xiaotang, he sighed in relief and then hurriedly bowed before the true Immortal. “Master! This disciple of the Artifact Refining Peak pays respects to you. I apologize for my tardiness and hope for your forgiveness!”

“…You’re also just at the foundation establishment stage, rushing to core formation. Whether early or late, it doesn’t change your uselessness. Why adopt this ‘sorry for being late to take on major responsibilities’ tone?” The true Immortal was utterly baffled. His confusion reached new heights when Xue Li and Zhen Yue arrived and released the Immortal Snow Sword.

What exactly was Zhou Yi up to, sending these four youngsters here? Even more infuriating was their successful rescue! Now he didn’t know how long Zhou Yi would boast about his “divine calculations.”

“What exactly are you holding?” Immortal Snow Sword asked quietly.

After a moment of hesitation, the disciple finally answered. Xue Li whispered, “…It’s a strand of someone’s hair.”

The true Immortal pressed on, “Whose hair?”

“It…it belongs to someone named Liu,” Sun Yinian hesitated. “Surname Fuguang. I met him on the road and found his character exceptional, so I invited him to travel with us…”

“Liu Fuguang?” the true Immortal of Abundance murmured, puzzled. “No, that name sounds so familiar…Fuguang, Fuguang, ‘Fuguang’ means…”

The Immortal Snow Sword fell silent for a moment, then whispered, “’Supreme Goodness.’ Zhou Yi has been playing a game for six thousand years, and finally achieved Supreme Goodness.”

No one spoke immediately. The four disciples didn’t understand the meaning of those words, while the true Immortal of Abundance was left speechless from overwhelming shock. Just then, their surroundings trembled violently and abruptly. Meng Xiaotang almost stumbled, caught off guard.

Zhen Yue exclaimed anxiously, “Oh no, has the Dragon God found us?”

The true Immortal of Abundance smiled bitterly. “Found us? The Dragon Palace is His lair, an extension of His true form. From beginning to end, we’ve been moving on His body. What is there to find out? It all depends on whether He wants our lives.”

Yan Huan indeed knew that four small insects had flown into the chamber where he stored miscellaneous items, and most importantly, they were holding Liu Fuguang’s hair. However, compared to what was happening now, everything else seemed insignificant.

Liu Fuguang looked at him quietly and said softly, “If you want me to stay and recuperate, I can.”

Yan Huan erupted into wild joy, his happiness so intense that both the Dragon Palace and Tang Valley trembled in unparalleled bliss, and emitted ecstatic cries.

“But,” Liu Fuguang continued. “I want you to release the people from those two immortal sects, restore the Great Sun to its normal state, and cease emitting mysterious light…”

“Okay, okay, okay!” Yan Huan eagerly agreed. He would feel utterly content even if Liu Fuguang had asked him to die. Those conditions were trivial compared to that. “I promise, I will do everything you ask. I…I will obey your words. I’ll do whatever you say!”

Liu Fuguang’s body trembled slightly from extreme fatigue. He wearily closed his eyes and fell silent.