Scoring a brace

The door rattled, the civet cat watched.

The door began to pound furiously, and the civet cat simply looked away.

Hú Délù flipped a middle finger at the door, a smirk playing on his lips, intending to completely disregard the unwelcome intruder.

In his world, virtually no one in the entire Ancient Hundred Demon Kingdom could rein him in, save for the Empress herself.

The Empress had just visited.

As for the few other old geezers who could possibly dominate him, they were either in perpetual seclusion or fond of wandering the mountains and rivers outside the kingdom’s borders.

Most of them shared no particular camaraderie with him.

The only one he was somewhat acquainted with, Li Changyi, only bothered to visit once every few decades, and considering he had just been there a few days prior, Hú Délù could safely rule him out.

He simply refused to believe that a civet cat could be so unlucky as to be disturbed twice in a row, especially by individuals he couldn’t possibly refute.

Such a predicament was more preposterous than choking to death on water.

After all, in the demon realm, he had never encountered any record of a demon suffocating from drinking water.

Embracing this conviction, Hú Délù stepped inside, fetched a bamboo chair, positioned it squarely by the door, then closed the door, crossed his legs, and began munching on a candied hawthorn skewer.

He simply squinted at the violently shaking door, which had even begun to show cracks.

“I refuse to believe it.

If some impertinent junior has dared to trespass, I’ll beat them so thoroughly their own mother wouldn’t recognize them.”

As he spoke, he bit into a hawthorn, chewing thoughtfully, his mind already calculating the compensation for the door—a sum that, naturally, included a fair bit of extortion.

“Bang—!”

Before he could delve deeper into his calculations, a colossal explosion ripped through the air, and the once-sturdy bamboo door shattered instantly, its constituent poles flying out like sharp blades, hurtling directly towards him.

“What the f—!”

With a startled cry, Hú Délù ducked just in time for the bamboo pole, originally aimed at his head, to whistle past with a ‘chua’ sound, embedding itself squarely in the door panel behind him.

A rapid succession of ‘chua’ sounds followed as other bamboo pieces flew in, effectively imprisoning him in their midst.

“Damn it, which dog dared to be so audacious!

Do you have any idea who I am…!”

At the courtyard entrance, Li Changyi lowered his raised right leg, gently patted his clothes, and immediately spotted the man, red-faced and seething with indignation, before teasing him with a feigned ignorance.

“Oh, so you were sunbathing?

This bamboo bed is quite unique, but sleeping on it too long makes your neck stiff, so… have you gotten a crick in your neck and can’t speak?”

With his hands clasped behind his back, he strolled in, casting a nonchalant glance at Hú Délù before turning his attention to the herb garden and walking towards it.

Hú Délù, meanwhile, felt a vein throb on his forehead, his face flushed crimson.

The curses on the tip of his tongue were forcibly swallowed, leaving him like a mute who had eaten coptis (TL Note: A bitter herb), unable to voice his bitterness.

‘Damn it, why am I so unlucky, seriously!

Didn’t that old geezer Li Changyi just visit two days ago?

Why is he back again!’

He emerged from the “bamboo sword array,” twisted his neck, and then, with an almost murderous intent, began to shake his fists at the white-haired elder who stood with his back to him.

“Hm?”

“Hm!

What’s wrong?”

Yet, as if sensing the subtle murderous intent, the elder abruptly turned, his eyes meeting Hú Délù’s, who had by then resumed a normal posture.

“What?

You don’t welcome me, boy?

Judging by the fluctuations in your emotions, I sense a certain dissatisfaction.”

“Oh no, no, not at all!

Your esteemed presence here makes my humble abode shine.

I’m overjoyed; how could I possibly be dissatisfied?”

‘How could I dare to be dissatisfied, honestly!

Though Túshān Yúnxī is the Empress, my seniority is still higher than hers, so a couple of respectful words suffice, and she wouldn’t do anything to me.’

‘But as for your venerable seniority, it’s countless generations above mine, and with that fiery temper of yours, if you truly became displeased and flayed me alive on the spot, I wouldn’t dare utter a word.’

Hú Délù slapped his own mouth, silently cursing himself as a “crow’s beak” (TL Note: A person whose words bring bad luck or come true in an unfortunate way), then scurried over to Li Changyi’s side with small steps, bending to ask softly.

“Elder Li, why are you still personally picking herbs?

Let me do it, let me do it.

You just rest…”

“Scram.

Go pick some Seven-Star Grass and Yin-Yang Flowers over there.

I’ll handle the rest myself.”

With a swat, he was pushed aside.

“Yin-Yang Flowers, Seven-Star Grass?

Could it be…?”

“That’s right.

That child Xúnyī has gone berserk again.

This time it’s quite serious; I only managed to suppress most of it after exhausting my emergency supply.”

The white-haired elder squinted, bent down to pluck a few ripe spirit herbs, placed them into his Qiankun bag (TL Note: A magical storage pouch), and proceeded deeper into the garden.

“Oh, and by the way… don’t call me ‘Elder.’

I’m only a thousand or two years older than you, boy.

Is that really so old?”

“Yes, yes, yes, you’re still young, not old at all.”

As he assented, bending to help pick herbs, he suddenly recalled something and asked.

“Speaking of which, why are you so concerned about a human junior?

Although the Ancient Kingdom Academy was co-founded by the Four Ancient Kingdoms, and you are one of its deans, you are fundamentally a person of the Ancient Hundred Demon Kingdom.

Isn’t it perhaps inappropriate to nurture a human like this?

What if the various nations eventually turn hostile again?

Wouldn’t you two, as master and disciple…?”

“Why?

Because I want to, alright?

You act as if you don’t care about that girl; every time something happens, you’re more anxious than I am.

Damn it, and now you’re asking such questions, trying to be both principled and hypocritical.

Scram…”

“Uh, this…”

Hearing this impatient reply, Hú Délù could only offer an awkward smile, no longer daring to ask further, fearing he might be struck the next second.

It wasn’t that he was truly timid; rather, as a child, he had been constantly beaten by Li Changyi for being mischievous, leading to a lingering post-traumatic stress response.

No dialogue, no conversation; silence descended between them, broken only by the rustling of fabric against herbs and the crisp ‘snap’ as roots were pulled from the earth.

After a long while, a hoarse voice suddenly broke the silence.

“Truth be told, this child reminds me somewhat of my granddaughter’s temperament.

Moreover, she’s an orphan, without parents or anyone to rely on, which is why I was moved to take her as my disciple.

As for the conflicting issues you’re concerned about, if they truly arise, it makes no difference to me; this old man simply doesn’t care.”

“Hm?

Your granddaughter…” Hú Délù froze slightly, his lips trembling, his gaze dropping, his voice considerably softer.

“So that’s how it is.

I understand now.

I wondered why you would do such a thing; so that’s it…”

He murmured “so that’s how it is” repeatedly, a vision of a little girl in a white dress, who used to call him ‘Uncle’ and follow him around, swirling into his memory.

Suddenly, a heavy thud landed on his back as Li Changyi slapped him.

“What are you doing?

Why do you look even more miserable than me?

I’ve already come to terms with it, old man that I am, so what do you still have to let go of?

Anyway, that lass brought it upon herself, insisting on falling for a weak man just like her mother, and she was so stubborn, saying this old man didn’t understand those ‘pretty boys.’

I couldn’t stop her, nor could I hit her…”

As he spoke, the elder’s face darkened, and a flicker of anger appeared in his eyes.

“Damn it, just thinking about it infuriates me.

If I’d known the outcome would be the same, I wouldn’t have had a daughter!

What a disaster!”

“Uh… please calm down first.

I just feel that, after all, I watched that child grow up.

Though not my biological daughter, she was like half of one to me…”

“Oh ho, so since she was my daughter’s daughter, you, boy, extended your affection (TL Note: Chinese idiom ‘ài wū jí wū,’ meaning ‘love the house and its crow,’ or ‘love everything connected to a person you love’), automatically assuming a role akin to a stepfather, did you?

Good son…?”

Li Changyi’s remark, which dramatically “increased his seniority” (TL Note: A humorous way of saying Li Changyi implied a much higher generational position for Hú Délù), choked Hú Délù, who coughed several times before recovering.

“Uh… your choice of words feels entirely off.

What do you mean ‘stepfather role’?

I… never mind, let’s not discuss this topic anymore.

It makes it sound like I’m some deeply emotional third party.”

“Yes, you, boy, care about your reputation.

This old man understands.”

Hearing this, the elder glanced at the candied hawthorn stand not far away and pursed his lips.

‘Hmph, always suffering for the sake of appearances.

Do you really think I don’t know your nostalgic thoughts?

It’s just a pity that things have changed and people are gone.

If only I had known, I would have tried to set you two up back then.

At least then, I wouldn’t be seeing a white-haired person burying a black-haired one (TL Note: Chinese idiom ‘bái fà rén sòng hēi fà rén,’ meaning parents outliving their children, or the elderly mourning the young) like this…’

‘Never mind, what’s done is done, alas.’

He sighed deeply, bent down to pluck another herb, and changed the subject.

“However, this old man has been quite vexed lately.

That girl Shangguan Xúnyī, while highly talented and diligent in her cultivation, I’ve noticed… she seems to have fallen for some brash young man.”

“What!?”

Hearing this, Hú Délù immediately reacted with an outburst.

“Damn it, where is that brash young man?

I’ll go chop him down right now!

How dare he lay his hands on a young girl from our Ancient Hundred Demon Kingdom?

He must be tired of living!”

The memory of Li Changyi’s granddaughter, coupled with the image of Shangguan Xúnyī as a thirteen-year-old girl when she was taken as a disciple, ignited a murderous intent within him.

He absolutely refused to witness such a tragedy unfold again.

To die for so-called “love,” in his worldview, was the most worthless and selfish way to perish.

In his vulgar words, such a thing was utterly ‘a pile of crap.’

“Hey, what’s the rush?

This old man has already met that boy.”

“Oh… is that so?

He’s already dead then.”

“Stop spouting nonsense.

Am I the kind of demon who indiscriminately slaughters the innocent?”

He kicked Hú Délù’s backside, and upon seeing the ‘Isn’t that right?’ expression on his face, he delivered another kick before continuing.

“That boy… I reckon he won’t live much longer.

His character is quite good, but unfortunately, his fate is not.

He’s being kept as a ‘medicinal primer’ (TL Note: A person or item used as an ingredient or catalyst for a powerful medicine or cultivation technique, often consumed in the process) by Xúnyī’s clansmen, that Shangguan-what’s-his-name.”

‘Wait, a Shangguan family medicinal primer?

Why does that sound so familiar?

It can’t be such a coincidence, can it…?”But that girl Xúnyī is indeed from the Shangguan family.

If I think about it that way, oh my god…!’

For a moment, Hú Délù’s expression was a sight to behold.

“I think his name is Yún Mù?

What, judging by your expression… you wouldn’t happen to know him, would you?”

The moment the name ‘Yún Mù’ was uttered, he forgot to reply, simply covering his face with a bitter smile.

‘Seriously, why is this kid everywhere?

First, the Empress and the little princess mentioned him in their prophecies, and now Shangguan Xúnyī, Li Changyi’s disciple.

Is his luck with women really that good?’

‘But… hearing it’s this kid, why do I suddenly feel a lot more at ease?

After all, this little guy’s character seems decent enough?

But will it really be okay like this?

Although there are no rules about monogamy or anything in this world, these girls are possessive people.

If they start fighting over him…’

‘He wouldn’t be torn into several pieces, would he?’

‘Ugh… never mind, that’s none of my business.

As long as he doesn’t do anything idiotic to betray the little girl, I can’t be bothered with the rest.’

He lifted his gaze to the elder before him and nodded.

“To be honest, the Empress just came to talk to me about him.”

“What!?”

This time, it was Li Changyi’s turn to be astonished.

His face was filled with disbelief, his normally small eyes now wide and round.

“No, why is the Empress involved?

Don’t tell me that blockhead Túshān Yúnxī is interested in some brash young man?”

Seeing the elder’s shocked reaction, Hú Délù wasn’t surprised; after all, the Empress’s indifference towards others was well-known.

And even setting aside her aloofness, it was inherently outlandish for a demon emperor to be interested in a human youth.

Coupled with the recent mention of Yún Mù and Shangguan Xúnyī, Li Changyi’s loss of composure was understandable, stemming from the convergence of coincidences and other factors.

“Oh, you needn’t be so surprised, Elder.

The Empress is only interested in him because of the Tree of Prophecy,” he said, patting the elder’s shoulder, his back inexplicably straightening a little.

“Otherwise, how could she possibly care so much for a human boy?”

Hearing this, Li Changyi finally understood some of the underlying reasons.

He swatted away the hand on his shoulder and directed his gaze towards the small house.

“Do you still have that tea?

Let this old man have some.”

“Tea?

Uh… to be honest, the Empress and her entourage just took it all.

I don’t have any left?”

“Truly none left?

I recall you having more than one jar, didn’t you?

Hidden in the backyard?”

“Uh…”

‘Damn it, how does this old geezer know I hid another jar in the backyard?

I wrapped it in so many layers of demon energy formations, yet he still found out?

Isn’t there only one step between Six-Revolutions and Seven-Revolutions (TL Note: Referring to stages of cultivation or power)?’

“Hahaha, I completely forgot until you mentioned it.

I’ll brew some for you right away.”

‘I’m truly having the worst luck of eight lifetimes.’

His mind was roaring, yet on the surface, he maintained a respectful demeanor, speaking as he hurried towards the back of his house.

As he neared the house, he seemed to suddenly remember something and turned back to ask.

“Elder Li, you’ve been here so long without returning; is that girl Xúnyī truly alright?

I remember the star she communicates with has a significant impact on her personality, doesn’t it?

Aren’t you worried something might happen?”

“No need for you to worry.

It’s as usual; I’ve already suppressed it.

Just bring the medicine back later for her to drink.

After all these times, I’ve never seen anything go wrong.”

Li Changyi paused, then added, “And don’t call me ‘Elder.’

I’m only a thousand or two years older than you; I’m not that old.”

“Alright, alright, Senior Li.

Since that’s the case, I’ll go brew your tea now.”

Hú Délù gave a perfunctory reply, scratching his head with a flicker of worry in his heart.

‘Is it really going to be okay?

What if I go back and find she’s gone?’

‘Never mind, never mind.

Given this old geezer’s strength, there shouldn’t be any problems, unless… he got careless?’

‘I don’t care anymore, I’ll brew the tea first.

I don’t know what kind of bad karma I accumulated today to be so unlucky.’

‘Annoying…’