The Immortal’s Return and the Demon Lord’s Mischief

Walking along the fifty-meter-tall beast bones, Dan Fusheng’s hand brushed over the still-uneaten flesh. He raised the sword in his hand and plunged it into the skin and meat.

“What are you doing with that thing?” someone asked him.

Startled by the voice, Dan Fusheng spun around, looking towards its source. “Master?!”

The moment the words left his lips, Dan Fusheng’s dream shattered.

He sat up, lost in thought for a moment, then let out a surprised ‘Eh?’

‘He actually dreamt? Was it because he had returned to this world?’

Dan Fusheng glanced out the window; dawn had not yet broken.

Bai Yu, who lay on the adjacent bed, was roused by his movements. He checked his phone, then groaned, clutching his head. “Mr. Dan, it’s only five o’clock. There’s no need to get up.”

“I know,” Dan Fusheng replied, patting Bai Yu’s back. “Go back to sleep. I’ll call you at six.”

Bai Yu mumbled an incoherent sound and promptly drifted back into slumber.

Bai Yu was utterly exhausted. Recently, he had been following Dan Fusheng’s early-to-bed, early-to-rise routine. Despite having no actual work, Dan Fusheng always seemed to find an endless stream of tasks.

They had mingled with the elderly, discovering the city’s most affordable farmers’ markets and which supermarkets offered the best point card deals for the highest quality goods.

There were also unique community events, such as the square dancing competition at the Sunset Red Sports Meet. Dan Fusheng hadn’t competed directly; instead, he acted as the team leader, gesturing from below the stage to guide their rhythm.

Ultimately, he led a group of sword-dancing seniors to a second-place finish, each winning an air-conditioning blanket.

Both Dan Fusheng and the seniors believed the competition was rigged, convinced their ranking was unfairly low.

The seniors sought honor, while Dan Fusheng coveted the extra prizes that came with first place.

Bai Yu only realized this a week after the competition.

At that time, he accompanied Dan Fusheng to the supermarket to buy oil. Dan Fusheng sighed as he looked at the oil, muttering softly, “If the competition hadn’t been rigged, why would I need to buy this myself?”

Bai Yu’s feelings towards Dan Fusheng were now incredibly complex. He wasn’t sure if Dan Fusheng was merely acting, as the man wasn’t short on money and had no apparent motive for such behavior.

This time, after closing his eyes, Bai Yu couldn’t sleep for long. His superior had sent him a message: the immortal who had been in seclusion for over six hundred years had emerged.

The very immortal who had once sealed and exiled Dan Fusheng alongside True Monarch You Qing?! How could it be such a coincidence?!

Bai Yu was now wide awake.

Dan Fusheng, oblivious to all, changed into his training clothes and picked up a soft sword. He had bought this unsharpened, stainless steel sword online for thirty-four yuan.

“Are you awake? Do you want to change and get breakfast?” Dan Fusheng asked him.

Bai Yu gave a perfunctory ‘Mm-hmm.’

There was no need for the Demon Lord to know about this; things would only get messy if he did.

Bai Yu also changed into his training clothes, and together they headed towards the breakfast shop.

Along the way, Bai Yu was preoccupied. Yet, as they walked, he noticed something was amiss.

It was already past six when they left. Given Dan Fusheng’s popularity, they should have encountered a few elderly folk greeting them. However, after walking for so long, there were no seniors, not even a sanitation worker.

Holy City’s greenery was well-maintained, and it was summer. By all accounts, the mornings here should have been bustling, even without people. Yet, there was no sound of birdsong.

“This… why is there no one around?” Bai Yu’s vigilance reached its peak.

“Indeed, why is that?” Dan Fusheng smiled. He seemed unaware of anything wrong, or perhaps, he simply didn’t care. The words had barely left his lips when a pitch-black longsword pierced through his chest, splattering blood across the ground.

Dan Fusheng was still smiling.

The longsword, having impaled his chest, suddenly twisted and cleaved through Dan Fusheng’s body.

Bai Yu’s eyes widened.

It wasn’t until Dan Fusheng was split in two and collapsed to the ground that Bai Yu reacted.

Bai Yu looked at the man standing behind Dan Fusheng.

The man was very tall, estimated to be over 1.9 meters. His features were sharp, exuding a fierce aura. His loose robes billowed without a breeze, and the muscles beneath his clothes were taut.

“I am Chen Gui,” the man’s voice was low, though not arrogant.

Chen Gui?! The immortal who had just emerged from seclusion?! He had come to kill him directly! Barely an hour had passed since Bai Yu received the news of the powerful immortal’s emergence.

“The… the Demon Lord… is he dead?!” Bai Yu pointed at the corpse on the ground.

“No, the barrier has not yet been lifted.” Chen Gui’s gaze fixed on the space behind Bai Yu.

Bai Yu was startled. “A barrier?!”

By all accounts, a barrier was meant to cordon off an area and then ‘set entry restrictions.’ He had heard that some powerful immortals’ barriers had unique features; for instance, as their cultivation increased, they could set ‘rules’ within them, making array arrangements more convenient.

But this one…

“Though it resembles it greatly, this is not the world you inhabit.” Chen Gui pushed Bai Yu aside and raised his sword, slashing behind Bai Yu.

The roar of thunder echoed in Bai Yu’s ears, followed by Dan Fusheng’s laughter.

Dan Fusheng was still alive?

Bai Yu instinctively looked towards where Dan Fusheng’s corpse had been. He saw the body gradually dissolve into a pool of blood, merging with the ground.

He then turned his head towards the direction of the fight; that Dan Fusheng was wearing pajamas.

‘Wait! When did this barrier activate? When did I enter it?’

Goosebumps rose on Bai Yu’s back.

As Dan Fusheng dodged Chen Gui’s attacks, he introduced, “You probably haven’t met this one; he’s my junior brother.”

Bai Yu: “Huh?”

“I am not!” Chen Gui’s expression darkened, and his movements intensified.

The two figures moved back and forth, a blur of motion. Bai Yu could only perceive dense black mist interspersed with thunder and lightning.

Dan Fusheng chuckled, “So many years, and my junior brother has become quite lively.”

The thunder grew more violent, almost tearing Bai Yu’s eardrums.

The black mist tried to engulf and bury the lightning, but it was repeatedly torn apart and shattered.

It seemed Chen Gui had gained the upper hand.

Then Bai Yu heard the clanking of chains, followed by a frantic explosion.

In an instant, the surrounding buildings turned to dust. Bai Yu instinctively closed his eyes, but the explosion did not reach his immediate vicinity.

It seemed someone had carved out a safe zone for him, creating a small, one-meter-diameter barrier.

When Bai Yu opened his eyes again, Chen Gui was already on the ground, a massive wound stretching from his chest to his abdomen. Dan Fusheng also had some minor injuries on his face, but he was standing, and those wounds were visibly healing.

Only ruins remained around them. The ground looked as if it had been plowed; the asphalt concrete road gone, leaving only a dark expanse. It was unclear if it was soil or melted and re-solidified asphalt.

Dan Fusheng was still smiling.

“That’s enough of a ruckus; don’t use such excessive things.” Dan Fusheng extended a hand to Chen Gui, seemingly to help him up.

Chen Gui, however, eyed him warily. “Your intentions aren’t that simple.”

“Good junior brother, you think too much of me.” Dan Fusheng crouched down. “If I had a choice, I would rather not have returned.”

“I truly didn’t want to meet any so-called old acquaintances,” Dan Fusheng’s voice remained gentle. “I wasn’t even prepared to see you. Who would have thought you’d so eagerly throw yourself into your senior brother’s embrace?”

“You are not my senior brother!” Chen Gui gritted his teeth.

“How heartless of you.” Dan Fusheng wanted to pinch Chen Gui’s cheek, but seeing Chen Gui’s fierce expression, he withdrew his hand.

He had a feeling Chen Gui might bite him fiercely.

“You’re right, my intentions aren’t that simple.” Dan Fusheng stood up. “There’s one thing I absolutely need your help with. If you don’t agree, then…”

He gestured to their surroundings. “This kind of destruction will happen a second time—in the real world.”

Chen Gui fell silent.

“True Monarch You Qing is dead, isn’t he?”

“How can you refer to Master like that—”

“I’m not your senior brother, you said so,” Dan Fusheng interrupted Chen Gui.

Bai Yu felt like he had just stumbled upon a massive secret. He had so many questions, but he couldn’t speak. After hearing Dan Fusheng’s threat, his first reaction was actually a sigh of relief. So, the destruction within this barrier had no bearing on reality; no one had died.

“What do you want?” Chen Gui silently clenched his fists.

Dan Fusheng’s smile widened. “Tomorrow morning at five-thirty, I need you to queue up for me at Huimin Supermarket.”

Chen Gui: ???

Dan Fusheng continued, “There’s a promotion; you can get free eggs.”

“Huh?” Chen Gui couldn’t react.

“You don’t understand?”

Chen Gui’s expression became solemn. “What is Huimin Supermarket?”

Dan Fusheng had an epiphany: this fellow had just emerged from seclusion; he wasn’t accustomed to modern life. “Uh, Mr. Bai,” Dan Fusheng looked at Bai Yu, “shouldn’t you first help him integrate into modern society?”

Bai Yu exclaimed, “Ah!” He immediately stated, “We have a department specifically responsible for the socialization of powerful recluses.”

“I knew it. Why else would he still be wearing those black robes, completely out of place? He must have come to chop me down without understanding anything,” Dan Fusheng walked over to Bai Yu, reaching down to pick up the thirty-something-yuan sword.

“I cannot leave him! You can’t keep an eye on him!” Chen Gui was uneasy about entrusting this demon lord to these youngsters. Bai Yu wasn’t even aware when he had entered the barrier, nor could he distinguish between Dan Fusheng and a blood puppet.

Dan Fusheng was pleased with Chen Gui’s attitude. “This child has been clingy to his senior brother since he was small.”

“Say what you will, but I must keep an eye on you!” Chen Gui stood up, the wound on his chest also beginning to heal. “Unless you kill me now.”

“How could I bear to kill you? If you were gone, who else would care about me?” Dan Fusheng sighed and shook his head.

“Putting on an act,” Chen Gui coldly assessed.

“Look at him,” Dan Fusheng said to Bai Yu, pointing at Chen Gui, “after so many years apart, he’s so happy he’s babbling nonsense.”

Bai Yu dared not respond; he didn’t even dare to show too much expression.

Chen Gui’s arrival disrupted Dan Fusheng’s plans. After the barrier was lifted, they returned home.

Dan Fusheng took out a set of new clothes for Chen Gui and told him to change.

Dan Fusheng’s clothes were a bit too small for Chen Gui.

Chen Gui clearly wasn’t accustomed to this style of clothing either.

“Your hair is shorter; did you just get a haircut?” Dan Fusheng could only rummage for looser clothes.

Chen Gui did not respond.

“Alright, fine, don’t talk if you don’t want to. Just don’t forget tomorrow’s task.” Dan Fusheng tossed the newly found clothes onto Chen Gui.

Chen Gui changed his clothes again.

Bai Yu entered at that moment. Chen Gui, however, had something to say to Bai Yu. “You are unsafe staying by Dan Fusheng’s side. Once you’ve taught me, you can leave.”

“Uh, well, I can’t leave just yet,” Bai Yu said, a little awkwardly.

“Why? You cannot control Dan Fusheng.” Chen Gui didn’t believe Bai Yu’s adherence to his duty was rational.

“No, my superior didn’t ask me to control Mr. Dan,” Bai Yu chuckled softly. “My superior asked me to look after you.”

“Look after me? I don’t need looking after.”

“You’ll still have some areas where you’re unaccustomed.”

“I can adapt very quickly. I don’t need to eat or sleep, so there’s no part of me that needs looking after.”

“But you might not be familiar with how to use a mobile phone.”

“I’ve learned.” For cultivators like them, scientific products were merely externalizations of cultivation techniques; finding the rules was easy.

“That quickly… but you might not be as familiar with other things.”

“Such as?” Chen Gui asked, puzzled.

“Do you think the current authorities trust you much?” Dan Fusheng directly cut through the pleasantries. “You attacked me directly right after coming out of seclusion, without considering the consequences. Perhaps in their eyes, you’re even more uncontrollable than I am.”

“How could that be?! I have never been like you—”

“Alright, alright,” Dan Fusheng didn’t argue, adopting a tone used to humor a child. “I’m the big bad guy, and you’re the honest, good person. I’m bad, you’re good, and Mr. Bai is here to supervise me.”

“You?!” Chen Gui saw Bai Yu’s embarrassed expression and realized Dan Fusheng was right.

Chen Gui fell silent, motionless.

“Um, Mr. Chen?”

“Oh, he’s just angry. Let’s just do our own thing,” Dan Fusheng said, not intending to bother with Chen Gui.

“Are you sure it’s okay?” Bai Yu felt this wasn’t right.

“Don’t let his fierce looks deceive you; he’s genuinely a good person. There’s no need to be overly polite to good people; they won’t cause any earth-shattering trouble anyway,” Dan Fusheng responded with a smile. “Just let him be angry by himself.”

Dan Fusheng, true to his word, ignored him. He took Bai Yu to eat brunch and watch television.

In the evening, Dan Fusheng asked Bai Yu if he still wanted to share a room. Bai Yu refused.

Dan Fusheng regretfully parted ways with Bai Yu. He helped Bai Yu set up his mattress, then lay down on his own bed.

Chen Gui stood by Dan Fusheng’s bed.

Once settled, Dan Fusheng asked Chen Gui, “Could you turn off the light for me?”

Chen Gui silently turned his back to Dan Fusheng, making his stance clear.

“Stingy.” Dan Fusheng had no choice but to get up and turn off the light himself. “Don’t forget what you promised me.”

“Are you really going to threaten me with so many lives?”

“Yep.”

“Demon Lord!”

“Yes?”

“Hiss!” Chen Gui suddenly spun around, eyes wide.

“Just tell me, are you going to do it or not?” Dan Fusheng pulled up his blanket.

“I will do it.”

“I’m just asking you to get some eggs, not to be a male escort. Who are you putting on such a wronged expression for?” Dan Fusheng grumbled.

Chen Gui frowned. He took out his new phone and began searching for the meaning of ‘male escort.’

After the search results appeared, Chen Gui wanted nothing more than to smash the phone onto Dan Fusheng’s face, but Dan Fusheng was already asleep.

Chen Gui fumed for a while, then turned back around.

Dan Fusheng was becoming more and more brazen! Shameless! Why did such a person even come back?!

He was angry for a long time, then turned his head to glance at Dan Fusheng again.

Such high cultivation, yet he still needed to sleep.

So inexplicable.

This person was always inexplicable: inexplicably leaving, inexplicably becoming the Demon Lord.

He was treacherous, heterodox, and betrayed his master, yet he was always the one his master cared about most.

Until his dying breath, his master had spoken of this second disciple, while he… he cared about nothing.

Chen Gui clenched his fists.

‘Chen Gui, you’re too gloomy.’

‘Are you envious of your senior brother?’

‘How could he possibly envy such a person?’

‘Such a…’

‘…

‘He will kill Dan Fusheng!’

At five-thirty in the morning, outside Huimin Supermarket, before dawn, the stage had already been set up.

This was a peace-singing event for the demon, monster, and human races. Those holding a Huimin Supermarket points card could sign up to participate, with a dozen eggs as the prize.

Chen Gui stood expressionlessly in the center of the stage, holding a microphone.

Below the stage, Dan Fusheng introduced him to an old woman beside him: “That’s my younger brother on stage; he’s a bit shy.”

“Your brother is handsome, but he’s too fierce,” the old woman commented, finding Chen Gui rather intimidating.

“He is fierce, but he’s really adorable,” Dan Fusheng defended Chen Gui. “When he was little, he used to hug my leg and act spoiled, calling me ‘gege’ so sweetly.”

Chen Gui heard what Dan Fusheng said. His hand tightened imperceptibly, and then the microphone broke in his grip.

The audience below collectively widened their eyes.

Dan Fusheng hissed, “Why is that guy squeezing the microphone for no reason?”

“Isn’t he your brother?” the old woman asked Dan Fusheng.

“Do we look alike?” Dan Fusheng pointed to his own face.

The old woman: “But you just said…”

“Mr. Bai, let’s go get breakfast,” Dan Fusheng waved his hand, preparing to make a quick escape.

“Eh? Mr. Chen, Mr. Chen?” Bai Yu pointed at Chen Gui on stage.

“Mr. Chen? Is his surname Chen?” Dan Fusheng glanced at Chen Gui on stage. “He’ll probably have to pay for the microphone. That guy might not be bright, but he has strong hands. Others sing with their mouths; why does he sing with his hands?”

Bai Yu: “Please stop talking!”

“Does he want to clap to the rhythm? But clapping requires two hands.”

Bai Yu desperately tugged at Dan Fusheng’s sleeve.

“All that brute strength used to be good for grinding mills and pulling carts. In an era of peace, trying to make a living… sigh, it’s tough.”

“I beg you, please stop talking!” This was getting more and more out of line! ‘Is this truly the Demon Lord?’