The Benevolent Demonic Cultivator

While Meng Lei and his companions initially ostracized Dan Fu Sheng, his nature was undeniably kind.

Dan Fu Sheng would readily guide their cultivation, assist them with chores, and even care for their children.

The children within the sect adored Dan Fu Sheng; many of their clothes and toys were crafted by his own hands. His tenderness towards them was boundless.

For the adults, he attended to every need, from clearing blocked spiritual meridians to simpler tasks like airing quilts and sweeping courtyards.

One particularly stubborn disciple, who harbored a strong aversion to Dan Fu Sheng, consistently showed him no warmth. His relentless obstinacy nearly caused his inner demons to manifest.

It was Dan Fu Sheng who noticed the subtle signs and promptly stabilized the disciple’s heart meridians. Dan Fu Sheng remained by the disciple’s side for several days, helping him regulate his meridians.

The disciple, bewildered, asked Dan Fu Sheng why he had helped. Dan Fu Sheng replied that he was merely establishing good relations for the sake of claiming territory.

The disciple, of course, did not believe him, dismissing it as Dan Fu Sheng’s playful teasing.

Dan Fu Sheng then added that his kindness to the children was also to foster good relations, ensuring they would all stand by him in the future.

The disciple simply laughed.

Dan Fu Sheng inquired if he was afraid.

The disciple found Dan Fu Sheng utterly humorous.

‘As a demonic cultivator, if he truly wanted land, wouldn’t he simply return and seize the Demonic Palace?’ the disciple thought. ‘Besides, the officials’ attitude towards Dan Fu Sheng is quite favorable. I don’t believe they wouldn’t grant him land. Why would he covet our Thousand Cauldron Sect?’

He had heard that the house Dan Fu Sheng desired was small and unremarkable.

“It seems I’ve judged a noble heart with a petty mind,” the disciple said, bowing to Dan Fu Sheng with clasped fists.

“Haha, don’t believe it if you don’t want to,” Dan Fu Sheng replied, having already honestly confessed.

When he claimed the children were his future juniors, the people of the Thousand Cauldron Sect believed Dan Fu Sheng possessed immense compassion, thinking he considered all children in the world his juniors.

These children would sit on Dan Fu Sheng, tug at his hair, and stick stickers on him, yet Dan Fu Sheng never seemed to mind. He was deliberately cultivating a bond with them.

To Dan Fu Sheng, even the ‘adults’ were like children. Their prejudices against him were akin to a child’s pouting declaration, “I’m never talking to you again.” He never took it seriously.

The disciple who had nearly suffered qi deviation even rested his head on Dan Fu Sheng’s shoulder for a long time. “If what you say is true, then why did you help me? Wouldn’t it be more convenient for you to seize the Thousand Cauldron Sect’s territory if a disciple like me died faster?”

“Because your survival doesn’t affect my plan, and you won’t live as long as I will. Besides, the lifespans of your sect brothers and sisters vary; saving you can earn me a good reputation,” Dan Fu Sheng patiently explained.

“Hahahaha, that makes sense,” the disciple said, pretending to take his words seriously. “You truly are insidious.”

“Not bad, I think you all seem quite pleased,” Dan Fu Sheng mused, believing himself popular enough for these disciples to accept him.

Later, Dan Fu Sheng, ever so considerate, reported this situation to Bai Yu, the representative of the officials.

Upon hearing the report, Bai Yu was utterly distraught.

Those sect members believed that Dan Fu Sheng, as a demonic cultivator, would never seize land. Their assumption was actually quite accurate, but they failed to consider that the current demonic cultivator was ambitious, and his desire to claim the Thousand Cauldron Sect’s land was merely an impulsive thought.

According to the officials’ analysis, Dan Fu Sheng likely felt he was at a disadvantage after being forced to carry out the mission. He believed he’d be shortchanging himself if he didn’t take something, so he decisively chose the most tangible assets: the Thousand Cauldron Sect’s houses and land.

He was no longer the kind of demonic cultivator with boundless foresight!

Yet, no one would believe Bai Yu. They all felt that Dan Fu Sheng was indeed a venerable elder, not some evil villain with a conspiracy written on his face. He was a man destined for great things, unbothered by trivial disturbances.

They did not know that the ‘great’ Dan Fu Sheng had already engaged in several fierce online battles using Chen Gui’s account, countering comments that ‘checked in and teased the honest person.’

Ever since Chen Gui became a meme, people flocked to comment, deliberately posting absurd remarks to provoke Chen Gui’s replies.

Dan Fu Sheng, as Chen Gui’s guardian, found it unbearable. He sternly reprimanded those who teased the child.

After Dan Fu Sheng revealed his identity as an elder, Chen Gui acquired several new labels. He became an intellectually impaired mama’s boy. Eventually, after Dan Fu Sheng’s reasoned arguments, Chen Gui was redefined as an intellectually impaired older brother’s boy.

Dan Fu Sheng believed he had helped Chen Gui correct some misconceptions, but Chen Gui felt he had merely corrected his own gender.

However, Meng Lei and the others knew nothing of this. They only perceived Dan Fu Sheng as gentle and considerate. This ‘Master of Si Fenglang’ who had appeared out of nowhere seemed utterly bizarre. Their grand-master had died long ago; how could such a person exist?

Furthermore, this person’s words were utterly preposterous from the moment he opened his mouth.

“Dan Fu Sheng, I never understood why you refused to let him go before,” the man mocked. “Now it seems you truly value that sentiment from two thousand years ago. You want to keep him trapped by your side.”

Dan Fu Sheng said, “Ah?”

Chen Gui’s brows furrowed tightly. “Can you stop fixating on that sentiment that no one knows about?” It was too strange; he felt as though he were reading one of Dan Fu Sheng’s eccentric literary works.

He suspected that this ‘Emperor’ was also shocked by Si Fenglang’s emotions and unconsciously began to extrapolate from that angle.

Dan Fu Sheng silently hugged himself, cradling the soft-shelled turtle in his arms.

The soft-shelled turtle flailed its limbs helplessly, while Dan Fu Sheng trembled, sniffing. “I’m over a hundred years old, but I am pure in matters of the heart. I’ve never experienced anything like that! What kind of malicious intent do you have, spreading such rumors?”

Chen Gui also couldn’t help but frown. “This demonic cultivator’s romantic sensibilities have yet to awaken. He is incapable of being infatuated for love.” After all, Dan Fu Sheng’s mind had long been preoccupied with other matters.

‘Imprisonment for love? Is there something wrong with him?’

The man was clearly somewhat bewildered.

He indeed did not understand that particular emotion, mainly because Si Fenglang had not expressed any hint of it, whether during the encirclement of the demon race or the assassination of the demonic cultivators.

Aside from Si Fenglang himself, probably no one else in this world knew of his subtle feelings.

The man’s relationship with Si Fenglang was indeed that of master and disciple, but few masters in this world ended up like True Monarch You Qing, being pointed at and cursed by their disciples.

The man’s relationship with his two direct disciples was both intimately close and distantly aloof. He cared about their cultivation and their lives, but he was simply too lazy to manage their romantic lives.

“I don’t even know you. I was just taking a stroll by the lake, and you suddenly rushed over, pointed your finger at me, and started cursing. You said I imprisoned someone’s master for love.” Dan Fu Sheng hugged the soft-shelled turtle even tighter, making it struggle more fiercely.

“Si Fenglang’s disciple is still here! What exactly are your intentions?!” Dan Fu Sheng crouched down; the soft-shelled turtle had already given up struggling.

“Mr. Dan, rest assured, we don’t believe him!” Meng Lei reassured Dan Fu Sheng.

“What good is it if you don’t believe it? So many sect members and disciples… never mind.” Dan Fu Sheng, still clutching the soft-shelled turtle, turned and walked away, wiping tears from the corners of his eyes.

“Mr. Dan?! Mr. Dan!” Meng Lei couldn’t call Dan Fu Sheng back.

“Dan Fu Sheng!!” the man yelled, stretching his neck. “Give Si Fenglang back!”

“Sir, if you don’t leave now, we will report you to the Special Administration Bureau,” Meng Lei said, exasperated. This man insisted he was Si Fenglang’s master. As Si Fenglang’s senior disciple, having stayed in the Thousand Cauldron Sect for so long, how could he not know Si Fenglang had a master?

Ultimately, the man was driven out by the disciples. Such an act of forcibly entering the sect was punishable by law.

Dan Fu Sheng, receiving this news, was unsurprised. At that moment, he was chopping soft-shelled turtle meat.

Dan Fu Sheng placed the chopped turtle meat into a pot for blanching. “The Thousand Cauldron Sect is not Yu Kingdom. This Emperor of theirs is simply too old. No one will remember him.”

Today, the cultivators born after the Millennial Chaos had all become venerable elders, while the Emperor of Yu Kingdom…

He neither instigated earth-shshattering chaos like Dan Fu Sheng, nor was he a pillar of humanity like True Monarch You Qing and Chen Gui.

No one knew him, and even fewer remembered him.

A vengeful spirit, meant to have died in the past, had been resurrected. He arrived in ‘his’ territory, but here, apart from the enemies he loathed, no one recognized him.

“Where exactly did he come from?” Chen Gui wondered. “Has his cultivation not changed all these years?”

In the past, this Emperor was a senior whom Chen Gui could only look up to, but now, Chen Gui’s cultivation was significantly higher than his opponent’s.

Chen Gui didn’t understand. “His body is somewhat similar to Si Fenglang’s, but there’s also something different.”

“Perhaps it’s the difference between a stem and a branch. But… Junior Brother, do you really think they can accomplish anything extraordinary?” Dan Fu Sheng scooped out the blanched turtle meat, preparing to make soup.

“Can they overturn the current era?”

“Impossible. They are merely pawns in someone else’s hands,” Chen Gui shook his head.

“Then what about this ‘someone else’?” Dan Fu Sheng continued to ask.

Chen Gui did not reply.

Dan Fu Sheng smiled. “The probability is extremely, extremely low.”

“Ultimately, everything has ended. They are merely residual souls from that past era. Residual souls have no roots, just like Si Fenglang and the others,” Dan Fu Sheng said with a smile.

Chen Gui asked Dan Fu Sheng, “What about you? What are you?”

“I am just me, Dan Fu Sheng.”

“Aren’t you a residual soul from the old era?”

“I don’t wish to do anything to this world, nor do I have anything I absolutely must do.” Dan Fu Sheng only wanted to live his own small life. He did not live reliant on obsession; what kind of residual soul would he be?

Chen Gui fell silent again.

“No, I just feel that I am also a residual soul.” Chen Gui had been reflecting just now.

Dan Fu Sheng turned his head back, looking at Chen Gui with some surprise. “Do you have inner demons?”

“No, not yet, at least.” Chen Gui paused there, then couldn’t help but warn, “I will perish with you before I lose control of my body. Don’t harbor any illusions of luck…”

He couldn’t finish his sentence. Dan Fu Sheng’s hand suddenly rested on his forehead.

Dan Fu Sheng had just served the soup; his palm was very warm.

Chen Gui felt spiritual energy probing his body. He tried to struggle, but Dan Fu Sheng held him down.

“Good, the problem isn’t too big yet.” Dan Fu Sheng exhaled slightly. “You’ve been in seclusion since Master’s death… Is it because of inner demons? Have the inner demons not been completely resolved?”

Chen Gui said, “I… Ah!! What are you doing?!”

Dan Fu Sheng picked Chen Gui up and swayed him while holding him close.

Chen Gui was not Dan Fu Sheng; he couldn’t remain composed in an adult’s embrace.

“Senior Brother is trying to use familial affection to soothe you,” Dan Fu Sheng explained, continuing to sway Chen Gui. “Do you feel your inner demons being warmed?”

“No,” Chen Gui said expressionlessly.

“Then Senior Brother will hug you a little longer. Does Senior Brother want to kiss your forehead?” Although there was a significant height difference, making it difficult for Dan Fu Sheng to reach Chen Gui’s forehead, Dan Fu Sheng would try his best.

Chen Gui extended his hand, and his innate sword was summoned into it.

Dan Fu Sheng threw Chen Gui away. “You don’t appreciate kindness!”

“You’re not allowed to hug me,” Chen Gui gritted his teeth. “Otherwise… otherwise…”

Dan Fu Sheng and Chen Gui spoke in unison: “Otherwise, I’ll perish with you.”

Chen Gui glared fiercely at Dan Fu Sheng.

Dan Fu Sheng asked Chen Gui, “Do you feel that your Senior Brother understands you exceptionally well?”

Thirty seconds later, inside the barrier.

Si Fenglang looked at Chen Gui before him, cautiously shifting backward. “Are you going to hit me again?”

“Not for now.” Chen Gui simply didn’t want to see Dan Fu Sheng, but since Dan Fu Sheng refused to share partial vision with him, he had no choice but to run into Dan Fu Sheng’s barrier. This way, he could avoid seeing Dan Fu Sheng while still monitoring him at all times.

Chen Gui squatted, hugging his knees. He was very quiet, sitting there like a statue.

Si Fenglang found it somewhat unbearable. “You’re really not here to watch me, are you?”

“Can you even escape? Why would I watch you?” Chen Gui wanted to change directions and continue squatting, but he quickly turned back.

Chen Gui truly didn’t understand. “Why did you fall in love with that demonic cultivator?”

“I’m not sure, perhaps because he saved me, or maybe it was his past personality,” Si Fenglang sighed. “Why did he change?”

Chen Gui’s brows furrowed tightly. “Are you implying he changed after you besieged him and cut off his hope for peaceful coexistence with humans?”

“Though demons and humans can intermarry, demons are, after all, an inferior race.” Si Fenglang was increasingly affected by his memories. Not long ago, he had spoken of humans and demons coexisting peacefully, but his current thoughts had clearly changed.

“Inferior race?” Chen Gui silently stood up. “Have you forgotten how you died?” After being toyed with to such an extent, how could he have the nerve to call others an inferior race?

“He only uses these underhanded methods.”

“Do you know what is considered honorable?”

Several seconds later, Chen Gui was dragged out of the barrier by Dan Fu Sheng again.

Chen Gui’s knuckles were stained with blood. Dan Fu Sheng looked at him, utterly enraged. “You truly are a God of War!” Whenever he was with Si Fenglang, he just had to beat Si Fenglang up.

“Don’t worry, he won’t die. I know my limits.” Chen Gui avoided Dan Fu Sheng’s gaze; he hadn’t fully recovered yet.

“I know your limits all too well!” In just a few dozen seconds, Chen Gui had beaten Si Fenglang half to death, then force-fed him medicine, and after that, continued to beat him.

He had already gone through two rounds.

“He’s not as strong as you; do you find it glorious to beat him?” Dan Fu Sheng pressed his hand to his forehead.

“Glorious, perhaps not. I’m merely fulfilling his demand for ‘fair and square’ combat.” Chen Gui felt Dan Fu Sheng shouldn’t stop him. He believed Dan Fu Sheng should have personally given Si Fenglang a good beating.

Dan Fu Sheng was about to say something more, but two childish voices interrupted their conversation.

“Uncle Dan.” Two five-year-old children entered Dan Fu Sheng’s courtyard, hand in hand.

Dan Fu Sheng immediately dropped his serious expression, revealing a benevolent smile. “Xiao Yao? Mi Gao? You’re here?”

“Uncle Dan!!” The two children spread their arms and lunged into Dan Fu Sheng’s embrace.

Dan Fu Sheng picked up both children, and his cheek was kissed by one of them.

“Uncle Dan, we came to play with you.” The children adored this handsome and interesting uncle.

“Shall we continue building our little boat then?” Dan Fu Sheng led the two children to move timber.

Chen Gui said nothing more. He glanced at the bloodstains on his knuckles and silently followed behind Dan Fu Sheng.

More and more children came running, pushing Chen Gui further and further away.

He watched as this group of children built small boats, fished, and ate with Dan Fu Sheng.

Finally, they played a frantic game of ‘demonic cultivator catches children,’ with the child at the very front playing ‘True Monarch Yaoling,’ who confronted the demonic cultivator as an equal.

Eventually, they tired themselves out, and Dan Fu Sheng brought out a small bamboo bed. The children then lay down on it to sleep.

Sleeping beside Dan Fu Sheng, they weren’t bothered by mosquitoes and felt cool and refreshed. Dan Fu Sheng would even fan them.

Chen Gui always felt this scene was familiar, yet he had never viewed it from this perspective before.

In the past, he would lie on Dan Fu Sheng’s lap, looking up at the starry sky.

Dan Fu Sheng talked a lot, endlessly chattering.

And as he rambled on, Chen Gui would fall asleep.

Now, Dan Fu Sheng was quiet. He simply smiled, fanning the children.

Chen Gui inexplicably felt a tightness in his chest.

Just then, a plush toy was tossed onto Dan Fu Sheng’s lap.

A child was lying on Dan Fu Sheng’s lap, stirring awake groggily.

The Jade Mastiff, who had thrown the toy, grumbled. “Is this your spot to lie down?” He jumped directly onto the bed, pushing the child aside with his rear.

The child hadn’t fully awakened. After the Jade Mastiff settled, the child blinked confusedly, then hugged the Jade Mastiff, closed his eyes again, and mumbled, “Rainbow big dog.”

“I’m a fox!” The Jade Mastiff mildly retorted, then stomped on Dan Fu Sheng’s thigh, preparing to sleep.

Before closing his eyes, the Jade Mastiff noticed Chen Gui not far away.

After a brief gaze at Chen Gui, the Jade Mastiff silently shifted, making a space in Dan Fu Sheng’s embrace. Then, he tapped Dan Fu Sheng’s left thigh with his front paw, signaling Chen Gui that he could sit there.

Chen Gui walked to Dan Fu Sheng’s side and crouched down, then remained motionless.

The Jade Mastiff waited for a while, and upon realizing that Chen Gui indeed didn’t want the spot, it lay down contentedly.

Dan Fu Sheng felt helpless; he didn’t know how to communicate normally with Chen Gui.

He frequently lowered his head to look at Chen Gui, who was crouching beside him.

As he watched, he noticed something was amiss.

Where were the bloodstains on Chen Gui’s knuckles? How had they become clean?

Dan Fu Sheng’s shirt today was quite long, its hem dangling beneath the bamboo bed.

Dan Fu Sheng pulled up his shirt hem, discovering it was wrinkled and covered in bloodstains.

Dan Fu Sheng: “…”

Chen Gui secretly watched him from the corner of his eye. When Dan Fu Sheng looked over, Chen Gui immediately turned his gaze back to his phone screen, still replying to those people’s messages.

“Oh, my junior brother is capable of mischief now,” Dan Fu Sheng chuckled. “Why are your hands trembling? You’ve never done anything this seriously bad, have you?”

Chen Gui trembled even more violently; he wasn’t typing at all.

“Hahahahahahaha,” Dan Fu Sheng laughed heartily.

Chen Gui furtively glanced at him again.

Dan Fu Sheng waited for him to look back, then smiled at Chen Gui.

“I, I acted impulsively,” Chen Gui said. “I can help you wash your clothes.”

“No need to wash them. I’m going to frame it.”

“Ah… uh… ah…” Chen Gui was utterly stunned.

“Ugh…” After that, Chen Gui hugged his head, curling himself into a ball.