Ning Buwei lovingly placed the two foolish children on the large iron chain.
Jiang Yizheng frantically cast Great Cleansing Spells on herself and Feng Zizhang. Feng Zizhang, barely conscious, was supported by his sister as he tearfully looked at Ning Buwei, “Father, there are still two young ladies below…”
Ning Buwei immediately had a bad feeling. Before he could stop him, Feng Zizhang said, “Those two ladies saved my life earlier. I- I can’t just leave them behind.”
The debt of a life-saving grace was significant. Ning Buwei couldn’t tell this fool to ignore those two people, especially since Feng Zizhang kept calling him father. He had to shoulder some of this karmic debt – it wouldn’t be right to ignore those in mortal danger.
Ning Buwei examined Feng Zizhang. He had been cleaned spotlessly by Jiang Yizheng’s Great Cleansing Spells – even his hair was giving off a fragrant smell now.
With his son, he didn’t bother with persuasion or trickery. He simply grabbed him by the collar and threw him down, then remotely guided Feng Zizhang to search for the people. Finally, they pulled out two figures, one large and one small, from a pile of mangled flesh.
Jiang Yizheng once again frantically cast Great Cleansing Spells.
Unlike Feng Zizhang who had his own heaven-defying luck, these two had suffered varying degrees of injuries. Especially the adult – her chest had been pierced by an iron chain, and she was barely clinging to life.
“Martial Aunt!” The young girl, with half her arm broken, knelt beside her with tears streaming down her face. “Martial Aunt, please don’t die. I’m a medical cultivator, I- I can definitely save you! Martial Aunt!”
Yang Qianrou weakly shook her head. “Lingzhu, don’t cry. Remember carefully what I’m about to say…”
Yang Lingzhu wiped her tears hard, but they kept flowing out as if they would never stop.
“…Medical Immortal Valley has been completely wiped out… only you remain now… I pass the Sect Master’s seal and sect mark to you. From now on, you are the Valley Master of Medical Immortal Valley…” Yang Qianrou heavily placed a storage ring in Yang Lingzhu’s palm and said through gritted teeth. “Ning Fan destroyed our Medical Immortal Valley. This revenge must be taken, or I won’t rest in peace! Lingzhu… Yang Lingzhu, remember, one day, you must kill Ning Fan… kill him… Don’t let Medical Immortal Valley end in your hands!”
Yang Lingzhu tightly grasped her hand, crying and shaking her head. “Martial Aunt, Martial Aunt, tell me how to save you? Martial Aunt… Martial Aunt?”
Yang Qianrou’s eyes remained wide open, but she had completely stopped breathing.
Seeing this, Feng Zizhang also sighed and knelt down to close Yang Qianrou’s eyes. He said to Yang Lingzhu, “Young Cultivator Yang, please accept my condolences.”
Yang Lingzhu clutched the storage ring, wiped her tears hard, and knelt back two steps. She kowtowed heavily three times to Yang Qianrou, her voice filled with grief. “Lingzhu… will not fail Martial Aunt’s trust.”
Jiang Yizheng watched until her eyes turned red, turning away to secretly wipe her tears. But when she caught sight of Ning Buwei’s interested gaze, he was stunned. “Father?”
Ning Buwei responded carelessly, “Hmm?”
“Someone just lost their Martial Aunt, you shouldn’t look so happy,” Jiang Yizheng whispered earnestly to her father. “People will hold grudges that way.”
Ning Buwei let out a light snort. Just as he was about to speak, Feng Zizhang suddenly cried out. “Young cultivator!”
That Yang Lingzhu had actually fainted from the combination of shock and excessive grief. Feng Zizhang quickly caught her before she fell.
Feng Zizhang looked uncertainly at Ning Buwei and carefully began, “Father, would you mind if—”
Ning Buwei: “……”
No, he did mind.
Ever since he had woken up by the Endless River, he had been plagued by children. Whether big or small, once they latched on, they couldn’t be shaken off. He was a pure and honest great demon, but now he had been reduced to fighting while dragging along a family. If word got out, people would probably laugh their heads off.
He just wanted to be a proper demon – why was that so difficult?
Ning Buwei decided to ignore Feng Zizhang’s pleading gaze and promptly changed the subject. “What exactly happened here?”
Feng Zizhang then explained everything that had happened to him here. When he mentioned Zen Master Mingsang’s sudden appearance, Ning Buwei’s expression suddenly changed. “Who did you say?”
“Zen- Zen Master Mingsang…” Feng Zizhang stuttered. “That’s what Fellow Cultivator Yang Qianrou called him, and the Zen Master didn’t deny it. We thought we were saved, but who knew Zen Master Mingsang would directly restrain that old monster and enter some kind of combined formation, saying he needed that person to lead the way…or something like that.”
“Union-Separation Formation.” Ning Buwei’s gaze became serious.
“I think so,” Feng Zizhang said uncertainly. “They kept talking about someone called Yan Jinzhou, who sounded very powerful.”
Ning Buwei sneered, “That dead monk dares to come here.”
The killing intent radiating from him startled Feng Zizhang and Jiang Yizheng. Jiang Yizheng had seen Yan Jinzhou’s illusion with him before and was nearly scared half to death. Now seeing Ning Buwei looking murderous, she quickly said, “Father, shouldn’t we leave here quickly? Didn’t you say the Venerable was looking for Xiao Shan and Huanhuan? Let’s go help!”
Ning Buwei gave her a cold look. Jiang Yizheng boldly met his gaze, though her voice grew increasingly weak, “If that’s not okay… we can wait for the Venerable to arrive… before fighting.”
Just as she finished speaking, Ning Buwei heard Chu Jun’s voice in his sea of consciousness, “We’ve found Yuanbai and the black dragon. We’re outside the Yan mansion.”
Ning Buwei took a deep breath and finally led Feng Zizhang and Jiang Yizheng out of the courtyard to meet up with Chu Jun.
Ning Buwei thought these two older ones were troublesome enough, but as soon as he stepped out the main gate, he saw Chu Jun standing there expressionlessly – one arm holding the whimpering Ning Xiu, the other grabbing a wailing little dragon, with Cui Yuan Bai on his back trying to breathe fire at the little dragon. Big Yellow was also inexplicably excited, barking loudly while circling Chu Jun.
Ning Buwei: “……”
He wanted to go back and fight someone immediately.
Ning Buwei swore that Chu Jun noticeably sighed in relief the moment he saw him.
The physical bodies that had been transported over earlier had automatically found their way back. Chu Jun took out the flying ship he was carrying, set up a concealed formation, and together with Ning Buwei, stuffed all these troublesome little ancestors inside.
When the formation completely closed, due to their dao contract, both men simultaneously felt doubly relieved.
In the largest room of the flying ship, both people and spirit beasts automatically found their spots. The injured and unconscious Yang Lingzhu was placed on the couch, with Feng Zizhang and Jiang Yizheng standing properly in front of it.
Seeing Ning Buwei’s dark face, Cui Yuanbai obediently stood next to Jiang Yizheng, but couldn’t help curiously looking at the young girl with the half-broken arm on the couch.
Big Yellow lay quietly by the wall, while the little black dragon sobbed and coiled itself into a ball, a large bump visible on its head.
Ning Xiu sat on the couch, looking between Chu Jun and Ning Buwei. Probably sensing the tense atmosphere, he lowered his head and began seriously playing with his little doll.
The doll is so fun to play with~
“Ning Xiu,” Ning Buwei directly called out, pointing at the little black dragon, “Did you do this?”
That large white egg was originally a dead egg. Even Chu Jun couldn’t bring it back to life, so how could these few little ones and a dog possibly hatch a live dragon? Moreover, the dragon had automatically formed a spirit beast contract with Ning Xiu – the culprit was obvious.
However, the culprit not only showed no remorse but also stubbornly resisted with a grin. He smiled, tilted his head, and said, “Ah da! Ah~ya~”
It was me and big brother and big sister who hatched Little Black! Little Black didn’t behave just now and got hit on the head by mother~I’m the most well-behaved~
Ning Buwei snapped his fingers, and Ning Xiu floated in front of him. As the head of the family, the great demon spoke in a chilling voice, “Do you admit your mistake?”
“Ah~dai~” Ning Xiu happily hugged his father’s head and planted a kiss on the great demon’s nose tip.
Father is the best~Fathery~
Ning Buwei: “…Acting cute won’t work.”
Ning Xiu obediently curled himself into a ball and burrowed into Ning Buwei’s arms, calling out in a sweet voice: “Da! Da~”
Father! Father~
Ning Buwei, whose anger suddenly completely disappeared: “………”
The silently relieved Cui Yuanbai, Feng Zizhang, and Jiang Yizheng: Good little brother! Well done!
But unexpectedly, Ning Buwei’s expression suddenly changed the next moment, “You think this is over? If this continues, you’ll eventually cause even bigger trouble. All of you stay on the ship and reflect on your actions!”
The great demon mercilessly handed out punishments to everyone.
Feng Zizhang and Jiang Yizheng were punished to copy the heart scripture six hundred and sixty-six times, Cui Yuanbai was required to completely refine the Purple Mansion within a month and not allowed to take things out without adult permission, Big Yellow’s dog food was halved, and as for Ning Xiu and the little black dragon, their favorite toys were cruelly confiscated.
Ning Buwei viciously said, “Whoever dares to cause trouble again, I’ll hang them on the mast to dry like salted fish.”
Everyone, including the dog, nodded obediently, and only then did the great demon vent his anger.
Chu Jun leisurely brewed tea beside him, timely handing Ning Buwei a cup of perfectly temperatured tea. Ning Buwei drank it all in one go before reacting, turning his head to look at him.
Chu Jun poured him another cup, saying gently, “They already know their mistakes, don’t be angry anymore.”
Ning Buwei narrowed his eyes at him, lifting the teacup to take a sip. “Oh?”
–’Pleading for them?’
Chu Jun met his gaze, eyes carrying a smile. “A lighter punishment will teach them a lesson.”
–’If we don’t return the toys to Ning Xiu and Little Black soon, they’ll cry again.’
The chastened little ancestors’ eyes immediately filled with gratitude toward Chu Jun, nearly ready to hug his legs and call him dear mother.
One crying was already an ear-piercing demon sound; two children together would be earth-shattering.
Ning Buwei cleared his throat, appearing reluctantly persuaded, “Hmm, that makes sense.”
A moment later, Ning Buwei and Chu Jun very tacitly walked to the deck for fresh air, leaving the physical body to watch over the children.
“What happened in the mansion?” Chu Jun suddenly asked.
Ning Buwei instinctively wanted to brush it off, “Nothing.”
Then he belatedly realized their dao contract hadn’t been completely sealed, and all his emotional fluctuations were clearly known to Chu Jun.
Just like now, Chu Jun only looked at him calmly, but his worry and concern transmitted over without the slightest loss.
It made him somewhat at a loss, yet he didn’t feel averse or resistant.
He stood on the deck, with occasional sounds of the little rascals’ laughter coming from the cabin behind him, while Chu Jun quietly stood beside him feeling the breeze, not pursuing the question further.
Ning Buwei suddenly realized that earlier at Yan mansion’s gate, he hadn’t truly wanted to turn around with his knife and plunge into that bloody Union-Separation Formation.
Only when he saw Chu Jun and these noisy children did he seem to finally extract himself from those oppressive, stuffy memories and take a free, deep breath—
Coming alive again.
