He and It Chapter 227: Inquire Here (55)

Chapter 227: Inquire Here (55)

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: GaeaTiamat

 

Not only were Liu Fuguang and Yan Huan surprised, but the newcomer also made a startled sound in its throat, as if shocked that the other had managed to withstand its strike.

Thanks to the light of the Pearl, Liu Fuguang clearly saw the figure of the Drought Demon. It was long and thin, with skin and muscles black as steel that tightly clung to its indestructible bones, and had a strange, bronze-like sheen. It resembled a ghostly shadow in the night. As for its appearance or clothing, there was none – just a bony head with two glowing, crimson eyes that flickered wildly.

Yan Huan was immediately furious. His robes and black hair fluttered in the air, as if moved by an unseen wind, though his body remained still. His neck extended like a long serpent, smoothly and rapidly through the air as it darted around the Drought Demon’s back. His face and lips transformed into his dragon appearance, complete with crooked nose and sharp teeth.

He opened his mouth wide, and revealed the layers of interlocking rotating fangs, and then ferociously bit into half of the Drought Demon’s head. The dragon teeth collided violently with the Drought Demon’s tough, metal-like skin, and sent sparks flying in the darkness. The Drought Demon let out a roar like a lion in pain.

Even though Yan Huan hadn’t bitten through its flesh, the Drought Demon’s strength was clear. On his long neck, the tendrils that acted as his dragon’s mane immediately lengthened and swarmed. They danced around the Drought Demon’s seven orifices and pierced its ears and nostrils. Two sharp, needle-like spines, the way bird beaks break through shells, stabbed into its fiery eyes, and gouged at its brain.

The Drought Demon, being subjected to such cruel torment, lost its ability to resist, and its agonized wails echoed through the empty, dark underground space. Black blood oozed from its contorted face, and it cried hoarsely, “Don’t kill me! I’ll give you whatever you want!”

Yan Huan held it firmly in his mouth, as his neck twisting and shifting. Another long, narrow mouth full of sharp teeth appeared, then snapped open with a cold laugh. “If that’s the case, you will answer whatever we ask.”

For the first time, the Drought Demon felt the chill of fear deep in its heart. It had hunted mortals for over a century, but it had never encountered such a terrifying being, one so far beyond the ordinary. Its life and death were entirely in the hands of the other, so it endured the intense pain and shouted recklessly, “Yes, yes! Please, ask, my lord!”

Liu Fuguang understood that the Drought Demon had come after him first. In the dry desert, it moved easily, like a fish in water. Even Yan Huan – or rather, even Yan Huan with his divine power greatly weakened – hadn’t been able to detect it in time.

It was because of that reason that Yan Huan wouldn’t let it go. At most, he would grant it a quick death.

With that thought, Liu Fuguang readily promised, “If what you say is true, I will spare your life. Now tell me, were you born a Drought Demon?”

Catching a glimmer of hope, the Drought Demon hurriedly explained, “I don’t know what ‘being born a Drought Demon’ means! But from the moment I gained consciousness, I’ve wandered the vast lands, hunting humans to fill my belly.”

Liu Fuguang thought for a moment. “Hmm. That doesn’t sound right. Are you the only Drought Demon in this world?”

The Drought Demon hesitated, and having sensed its moment of doubt, Yan Huan’s tendrils lashed out violently, and plunged into its brain. The Drought Demon immediately let out a sharp, desperate wail, as blood and tears streamed from its eyes.

Liu Fuguang furrowed his brow and shot a stern glance at Yan Huan.

Finally, when there was relief from the pain, the Drought Demon, weak and gasping, begged, “My lord, there’s more…there are others, it’s not just me…”

“Then that explains it,” Liu Fuguang said. “If there are others like you, and the survival conditions for mortals are so harsh, even if they can reproduce, they will never match the Drought Demon’s copper-like skin, iron-like bones, and immense strength. Shouldn’t they have been devoured by your kind long ago? What can explain this?”

With no way to deny it, the Drought Demon reluctantly stammered, “It’s because…because…there are rules set for us…”

“Who set the rules and what exactly are they? Do we need to ask you, or are you a bell that rings whenever struck?” Yan Huan chuckled. The Drought Demon, hearing his voice, trembled in fear and shook uncontrollably.

“…It’s the Drought God, the Drought God sets the rules!” the Drought Demon cried out painfully. “We are all descendants of the Drought God. He set the rule that in the span of three months, we are only allowed to hunt once!”

Liu Fuguang and Yan Huan exchanged a look. Liu Fuguang asked, “Tell us about this Drought God.”

If the Drought Demon still had eyes, fear would surely have shown in them.

“The Drought God is the ruler of all things,” it gathered the courage to say. “He resides in the Red Water Palace. The changes in seasons and the weather, all are under His control.”

Liu Fuguang quietly asked Yan Huan, “Do you sense anything?”

Yan Huan scoffed, “I sense nothing. This so-called Drought God is just self-aggrandizing. The previous Drought Goddess was a true descendant of the Yellow Emperor, but she died long ago. ¹ Now, some random creature calling itself a weather deity has piled up a mound named Redwater and dares to call itself a god?”

He then asked, “Where is the Redwater Palace? What are the defenses like? And what powers does this so-called Drought God possess?”

The Drought Demon pointed them in the right direction. “The Redwater Palace has no guards, because the Drought God lives on a thousand-mile expanse of blazing land. Even when we approach, we feel like we’re melting. So, only the Drought God resides there. As for His powers, I only know that He has a treasure mirror, and He uses it to observe the world…”

At that point, it remembered the scene they were currently in and wondered if the Drought God was watching them right now. It shook in terror.

“What kind of mirror is it?” Liu Fuguang asked.

The Drought Demon labored to respond, “…I don’t know where the mirror came from. I only know it’s called the Mirror of the World.”

Having said all it could, it grew anxious, and pleaded desperately, “I’ve told you everything I know. You will keep your promise, right? Spare me! I know I was wrong. I won’t dare again…”

Liu Fuguang glanced at Yan Huan, and the Dragon God snorted. “Since you haven’t lied, I’ll let you go.”

He released his grip, and his tendrils withdrew. The Drought Demon, as if reborn, leapt up and tried to flee, but after only a few steps, a crisp “crack” sounded in the air. The Drought Demon froze, like a puppet with its strings cut, then suddenly crashed to the ground.

From its ear canal, a dark, tar-like substance poured out, then slithered back to Yan Huan.

Liu Fuguang remarked, “If you want to kill it, just kill it. Why play such cowardly tricks?”

Yan Huan spread his hands innocently and said, “If I didn’t let it gain any advantage, how would it be willing to speak? I kept my promise and spared its life. It’s its own fault for not seizing the opportunity.”

Liu Fuguang, didn’t want to argue any longer. He knew the twisted logic would only make Yan Huan more smug. He said, “Let’s go to the Redwater Palace. No more delays.”

After a night passed, the sky began to brighten. The two of them followed the drought demon’s map and flew toward the Redwater Palace. Along the way, they encountered several powerful drought demons, but none were a match for them.

The further south they traveled, the hotter the climate became. Eventually, they no longer needed the map, as they could see the towering, bright red palace, like a sharp, glowing needle as it pierced the sky.

The ground was scorched and cracked, as golden fire flowed through the cracks, filled with rolling lava. The plains stretched for miles, with no living creatures in sight.

Liu Fuguang’s injuries had been healed by Wu Luo, and his control over his spiritual energy had become more refined. Yan Huan had ignited the Great Sun three times and wasn’t bothered by the heat. They silently passed over the burning land and neared the Redwater Palace.

Liu Fuguang thought to himself, the drought demoness had been driven away by Shujun and lived in this area. ² The term “Redwater” likely referred to the lava, right?

He reminded Yan Huan, “The drought god holds the Mirror of the World, so he might be watching our every move. So…”

“So?” Yan Huan asked.

“First, show respect, then proceed with force.” Liu Fuguang said. “Even if the other side isn’t a god, he’s been immersed in this place for a very long time. It’s hard even for a powerful dragon to suppress a local snake.”

Yan Huan grinned. He wasn’t opposed to Liu Fuguang’s suggestion, “What’s the harm in showing him a bit of mercy?”

The Redwater Palace was entirely red. It was hard to tell what material it was made from, but compared to the scalding heat of the lava plains, the temperature inside the palace was still bearable. Liu Fuguang touched one of the crimson stone pillars. It felt hot to the touch, like touching congealed blood.

The palace was filled with rooms of varying sizes, but it was empty. It was unclear who this massive palace was built for.

“The drought god is at the top,” Liu Fuguang scanned with his spiritual senses and pinpointed the location. “Shall we head up?”

Yan Huan, carrying him, soared upwards. As expected, the Supreme Evil had no intentions of being a guest. He only had the mindset of a master.

At the top, they found a giant blood-red figure sitting on a throne. His face was sharp, and his long hair resembled fire crystal. Floating before him was a shining mirror, as round and bright as a full moon. When he noticed the intruders, he glanced at them indifferently with his crimson eyes.

Liu Fuguang gazed at him and spoke softly, “You are the drought god.”

The blood-red giant stared back, his expression unchanged. Then he said abruptly, “Zhi Shan, you are late.”

Surprised to have his identity exposed, Liu Fuguang asked, “You know me?”

“I’m a god,” the drought god replied. “Of course, I recognize your identity. However, you are late.”

He repeated that twice, and Liu Fuguang grew more curious. “If I’m late, how long have I been late?”

The drought god stared at him, inhaled deeply, and sighed. A scorching hot wind, like burning human skin, blew through the hall.

“You’ve been late for several thousand years. I can’t even count anymore.” He then shifted his gaze to Yan Huan, his eyes filled with what could only be described as disgust. “And you, Supreme Evil, why have you come here uninvited and lingered for thousands of years?”

“Stop with the pretentious act,” Yan Huan sneered. “A fake god, showing off!”

The drought god ignored his taunt and slowly stood up. His head immediately hit the dome of the palace. He spoke slowly, “Still, it doesn’t matter. The deal has been struck, Zhi Shan. Come with me.”

His words were confusing, and his actions made no sense. After he said that, he opened his massive, lava-like hand and reached toward Liu Fuguang.

From the beginning, the drought god treated Yan Huan like he was invisible. Now, his actions made the dragon god furious.

Yan Huan growled, “How dare you!”

With that, he extended his dark claws and slashed at the drought god’s palm. He put all his anger into the strike, and the impact of their powers collided with such force that the entire hall exploded in a blinding flash, like stars exploding! Liu Fuguang was almost blinded by the intense light.

Amid the fiery explosion, he heard the drought god’s surprised, “Huh.” 

“I didn’t expect you still had some strength left.”

Liu Fuguang, unable to shield his eyes, looked up in shock. After clashing with Yan Huan, the drought god was still alive, and without a scratch!

How was that possible?

Yan Huan’s expression shifted several times, then finally settled on one of pure malice. He asked in a low voice, “Who are you?”

The drought god lazily began to swing his arms, as he spoke slowly, “I am the drought god.”

“I don’t know,” Yan Huan mocked. “As the daughter of the Yellow Emperor, how come there’s such a filthy spawn left in the world?” He sneered. “Who are you really?”

The drought god assumed an attacking stance and replied quietly, “I am the drought god.”

Before his words could even fade, the giant’s enormous body shot out like lightning, and instantly shattered half of Redwater Palace. Like a blinding crimson ray, he slammed Yan Huan out onto the plains!

Liu Fuguang was stunned. He quickly summoned his cloud and followed, but within a few breaths, their battle had escalated to a full-blown frenzy, like two feral beasts tearing each other apart.

The drought god’s muscles bulged and writhed like primal fire. Yan Huan, on the other hand, manifested countless giant jaws and limbs, like a nightmare that had existed since the beginning of time, bent on chewing his opponent’s bones clean.

Red and black blood poured out, and the blood that hit the ground grew into bizarre creatures; red and black beasts that fought against each other.

The drought god was nearly overwhelmed by a tide of snakes, and he struggled to avoid being devoured as his massive fists pounded out flaming punches. As the battle grew more intense, he roared, “I am not! The daughter of the Yellow Emperor! A filthy spawn!”

Yan Huan responded with a disdainful laugh. His energy was drained as he fought the drought god, yet at the same time, he replenished his strength during the battle. He was like the lowest, most despicable, yet most terrifying leech in the world, as he continuously devoured his enemy’s flesh, blood, and essence.

What surprised him, however, was that everything about the drought god confirmed the god’s own words. The drought god’s origin was incredibly close to divine power, yet there was a subtle difference. In fact, he truly had the qualifications to rightfully declare those four words – I am the drought god.

“So what are you?” Yan Huan laughed coldly. “The female drought god was exiled to the shores of the Redwater, never to marry. Perhaps calling you a bastard is more appropriate!”

In an instant, the drought god let out a sharp scream, and flames like solidified fury erupted from his body. The temperature of the flames was so high, that their tips gleamed with a platinum-like brilliance, which reflected his fury. The flames soared a hundred feet tall, and he used that force to break free from the grotesque jaws that bound him, then slammed into Yan Huan with full force.

The drought god’s skin, once blood-red, was now barely intact, torn and ragged, with magma flowing through the wounds, which glistened as he moved. He looked like a giant who had been skinned. He was covered in blood and looking hideously terrifying.

“At that time, the female drought god fought for the people of the world, and even if she exhausted the last bit of her divine power, she had no regrets!” the drought god roared. “I inherited her will, and now I am the new drought god. How dare you slander me!”

Liu Fuguang stared at him, shocked. He had been curious about the origin of the drought god’s power, but never imagined it would come through such a peculiar path—sharing the same root and origin with the old gods, inheriting their intentions or desires. As long as the power was strong enough, the obsession deep enough, it seemed that it was indeed possible to become a god!

Yan Huan’s situation was even worse than the drought god’s. Half of his tentacles were burned away by the extreme heat, limbs shattered, and new ones generated. He resembled a candle melting under heat while terrifying black wax dripped down and slowly collected into a twisted pool on the ground.

For the past six thousand years, aside from dealing with Internal Demon, the drought god was the first opponent to make him look so ragged.

“First, how do you know the female drought god was willing and not driven by the Yellow Emperor? Did you eavesdrop under her bed?” Yan Huan laughed maliciously. “Second, well, there is no second, because the first point is already ridiculous enough. If the female drought god knew you were here, building a monument to her and putting on a crown for her, she would surely come back to life and slap you twice!”

Liu Fuguang felt a sense of dread. Seeing the drought god’s expression, it was clear that he was about to explode. He immediately exerted all his strength, rushed forward, and threw the Sun Pearl into the center of the battlefield, hoping to block the blast for a moment.

At that moment, time seemed to flow like slow-moving rain.

The pearl rolled. At the same time, Yan Huan moved and tried to shield him. His hand stretched out just in time to crumple Yan Huan’s robes, but his whole body was soon surrounded by scorched, blood-scented tentacles.

Then, the drought god’s sudden burst of fury hit, and it was more intense than a hundred active volcanoes combined!

The entire world went silent, and Liu Fuguang could only see a blinding flash of white light. The Sun Pear instantly shattered and formed a radiant barrier that shielded them both, but the shockwave generated by the drought god’s explosion kicked them like a soccer ball, and sent them flying a thousand miles to crash back into Redwater Palace.

Liu Fuguang’s eyes widened in terror, as his mind flooded with a single thought.

Everything in the world, it seemed, was always part of an intricate, inevitable plan.

With a whoosh, both of them, clothes and all, collided with the round, full moon-like mirror that hung before them.