The Inner Demon’s Pity and the Emperor’s Humility

Chen Gui relentlessly questioned Dan Fusheng about his acquisition of seductive techniques. Exasperated by the interrogation, Dan Fusheng eventually confessed, stating that one could never have too many skills and they might prove useful in the future.

Later that night, as Dan Fusheng slept soundly, he was abruptly roused by Chen Gui. The moment Dan Fusheng turned his head, he was met with a pair of eyes positioned unnervingly close to his own. They were so close that Dan Fusheng couldn’t even discern the shape of Chen Gui’s eyes; Chen Gui’s nose was practically touching his cheek.

‘What now?!’

Dan Fusheng instinctively patted himself, then asked with a tremor in his voice, “Am I… dead?”

“How could that be?!” Chen Gui had already checked; Dan Fusheng’s body was in excellent condition, with his internal energy flowing smoothly.

Chen Gui pulled out a tissue and took Dan Fusheng’s hand, intending to wipe away the tears clinging to it. Before he could move, Dan Fusheng stopped him.

“Wait a moment.” Dan Fusheng licked the tears from his own hand. Yes, they were indeed tears.

Chen Gui gently pushed Dan Fusheng’s head away, then meticulously wiped his hand clean.

Dan Fusheng noticed Chen Gui’s tears were still falling. “What’s wrong?” he asked, trying to soften his voice.

However, his gentle tone only made Chen Gui cry more profusely. Dan Fusheng’s throat tightened, and he suddenly found himself at a loss for words.

“I was thinking about how much you suffered during your exile.” In his rational state, Chen Gui believed that any hardships Dan Fusheng endured were self-inflicted; no one forced him to become a Demon Lord. Having committed outrageous acts, he deserved to face the consequences. Furthermore, their Master had already repaid most of Dan Fusheng’s debts.

Dan Fusheng himself likely thought the same. But now, influenced by his Inner Demon, Chen Gui felt immense pity for him.

“Did you use those methods you learned in the world where you were exiled?” Chen Gui asked.

“Are you referring to seduction?” Dan Fusheng pondered for a moment, then reminded him, “I recall mentioning that I was an Emperor in that world for several hundred years.”

“But why did you learn how to repair air conditioners?” Chen Gui pressed.

Why had the conversation veered back to air conditioner repair? Dan Fusheng didn’t understand, yet he answered truthfully, “Because repairing air conditioners was more enjoyable than being an Emperor.”

During his time as an Emperor, he neither ate, drank, nor slept, completely devoid of any personal life. After faking his death, he tried numerous jobs, each far more interesting than ruling a kingdom.

“I heard Bai Yu say that when you first returned to this world, you asked an official whether you could work as a male model.” The more Chen Gui thought about it, the more he felt something was amiss. “Did you do that job before?”

“I merely thought I was quite handsome… Junior Brother!” Dan Fusheng reached out and fiercely pinched Chen Gui’s face. “I never developed any relationship beyond friendship with anyone in that world. Whatever you’re imagining in your head, it’s not true!”

Chen Gui lifted his gaze. “So, you didn’t raise any children in that world either?”

Dan Fusheng fell silent. Chen Gui leaned in closer.

Dan Fusheng shifted his gaze. “Uh…”

“You did raise them.” Chen Gui understood.

Dan Fusheng had not only raised them, but he had also supported several generations of their family. After much persuasion, Dan Fusheng finally convinced an individual to abandon their insistence on him remaining Emperor. Nevertheless, that person would visit him occasionally, becoming the only former subordinate he maintained contact with after faking his death. Later, that person died, and their child began to contact Dan Fusheng in their father’s stead. Dan Fusheng virtually became their family’s inherited friend.

He never interfered with their fates, only offering a helping hand during critical moments. He witnessed the ups and downs of that family.

Initially, he dared not return to the main city, fearing recognition. Later, he brought one of their descendants back. The child asked Dan Fusheng if their ancestor had truly been a minister to that legendary Emperor. Dan Fusheng nodded, confirming it. The child then asked Dan Fusheng what his own position had been at that time. Dan Fusheng did not answer, instead deftly sidestepping the topic.

He didn’t know if the child had guessed anything, but everything was in the past.

The descendants of that gifted young man grew more numerous. Occasionally, a few would display extraordinary talent, but the vast majority were ordinary people. Eventually, even Dan Fusheng could no longer trace all of that person’s descendants; everything had passed. Dan Fusheng had witnessed the birth and death of countless children, accompanying many through their entire lives. He watched as their eyes transitioned from clear to murky, as they struggled to draw their first breath, and ultimately, as their vitality waned and their strength was finally exhausted.

Dan Fusheng felt as though he had lived through countless momentous events with them. Yet, when all those fervent experiences were combined, they seemed so ordinary.

“Those children were merely passersby,” Dan Fusheng comforted Chen Gui. “Junior Brother, you are the most important child I’ve ever guided.” As he spoke, he himself realized how strange that statement sounded.

“Do you intend to raise more in the future?” Chen Gui asked, then immediately felt his question was foolish; of course, Dan Fusheng would. Dan Fusheng’s life was simply too long.

Those two aspects of his existence still required a third type of privilege!

“Senior Brother truly hasn’t used that method to seduce anyone,” Dan Fusheng continued to reassure Chen Gui. He hadn’t fallen to that point yet, but if such a day ever came, Dan Fusheng wouldn’t mind.

“But you wouldn’t object to using such methods, would you?” Chen Gui asked.

“How did you know? Did you read my mind?!” Dan Fusheng was startled.

“I knew it!” Chen Gui understood his Senior Brother’s character all too well. “You can’t do that!”

“Alright, alright, I won’t! I absolutely won’t!” Dan Fusheng promised.

“You’re not allowed to look away when you promise!”

“Why are you so demanding?!”

“Look into my eyes and promise!”

“Junior Brother, are you hungry?”

“You’re changing the subject!”

When Si Chen arrived the next day, he didn’t find Chen Gui in the courtyard.

“Didn’t you say your Junior Brother had an Inner Demon? Isn’t he inseparable from you? Where is he?” Si Chen asked, puzzled.

Dan Fusheng pointed upwards. Si Chen followed his finger and met Chen Gui’s gaze in the branches of a tree.

Si Chen: “…What happened?”

“I think I angered him.” Dan Fusheng put his hands on his hips. After a brief stare-down with Chen Gui in the tree, he waved to him. Chen Gui merely snorted.

Si Chen: “What do you mean, ‘I think’?”

“While there’s a ninety-seven percent chance he’s angry because of me, I personally believe the other three percent is because he hasn’t figured things out himself.” Dan Fusheng had spent the entire morning trying to devise a way to shift the blame, but without success. However, this didn’t stop him from forcefully assigning three percent of the blame to Chen Gui.

“Junior Brother, want some breakfast?” Dan Fusheng waved a steamed bun at the tree.

Chen Gui, still perched on the trunk, hugged his knees. “I don’t want any!”

“This child is really temperamental. By the way, why are you looking for me?” Dan Fusheng pulled out a bun and bit into it.

Si Chen pointed at Chen Gui in the tree. “Is your Junior Brother alright?”

“He’s not, but there’s nothing I can do. His Senior Brother is just like this; he wouldn’t believe me even if I lied.” Dan Fusheng sighed helplessly. Even if he succeeded in deceiving him, what if Chen Gui later discovered he had lied and his Inner Demon returned? Dan Fusheng sighed repeatedly. “My Junior Brother climbed up in the middle of the night. I’ve been calling him for half the night.”

Si Chen cast several more glances at Chen Gui. He had important business to discuss. “Can you leave now? The officials can’t get any information out of You Zhi.”

Dan Fusheng hissed. “Have they tried everything?”

“Everything. They even sent Jade Mastiff to persuade him, but it was useless.” Si Chen shook his head with a sigh.

Dan Fusheng uttered an “Oh,” then asked, “Did they perform soul-searching?”

Si Chen fell silent.

Dan Fusheng stuffed the rest of the bun into his mouth, waiting. When Si Chen remained quiet, he suddenly understood. “You think I’m too cruel? You’re from that era too; you should know that soul-searching is the most effective method.”

“Wasn’t You Zhi raised by you?” Si Chen asked.

“Hey! Don’t be so excessive!” Dan Fusheng frowned. “I’m not his parent. Although I taught him and raised him, that doesn’t mean we’re bound together. Jade Mastiff was also raised by me. He helped collect demon cultivation techniques and establish schools, but I didn’t see any of you praising me for raising him well,” Dan Fusheng spread his hands. “All the good things are attributed to them, and the bad things are attributed to me. That’s not fair.”

Si Chen shook his head. “How they turn out is their own business. It’s just that I didn’t expect you to so naturally accept soul-searching a child you raised.”

Dan Fusheng stared at Si Chen. After a long moment, he muttered, “You’re not going to let this go, are you? You’re subtly calling me heartless and ungrateful. Be careful, or I’ll soul-search you too!”

“That’s not what I meant. It’s just… do you really intend to continue down this path? If you can soul-search a child you personally raised, who would dare stay by your side?” Si Chen was genuinely worried about Dan Fusheng.

Just then, Chen Gui’s voice softly chimed in, “I would.”

Dan Fusheng and Si Chen simultaneously looked up. Perched in the tree, Chen Gui raised his arm. “Soul-searching isn’t that bad.” His Senior Brother had done far more outrageous things; soul-searching was merely a method of interrogation.

“Moreover, You Zhi was in the wrong this time. It’s good not to let personal feelings interfere.” The Chen Gui controlled by his Inner Demon still found Dan Fusheng’s righteous stance admirable. “He’s very good to Jade Mastiff,” Chen Gui added, “because Jade Mastiff didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Aren’t you afraid of your Senior Brother?” Si Chen was somewhat surprised.

“Senior Brother still has justice in his heart, and that’s excellent.” Not only was Chen Gui unafraid, but he liked Dan Fusheng even more because of his attitude towards You Zhi. His Senior Brother still knew the difference between right and wrong, and Chen Gui’s greatest strength was being a “good person.”

Si Chen’s frown deepened. “If you’re not afraid of him, then why are you hiding in a tree?”

“I was angered.” Chen Gui had no immediate plans to descend.

“What angered you?” Si Chen asked again.

Of course, it was because Dan Fusheng had such little sense of shame! However, the words stopped at the tip of Chen Gui’s tongue. Chen Gui always clashed with Dan Fusheng, but he disliked others targeting his Senior Brother.

So: “It’s none of your business.”

Chen Gui recalled what Dan Fusheng had said when introducing Si Chen to him. Dan Fusheng had mentioned feeling an immediate kinship with Si Chen because his appearance in a skirt reminded him of True Monarch You Qing.

“Mind your own business,” Chen Gui said, hugging his knees. “Cross-dresser.”

“Eh?!” Si Chen was stunned. “No, you…”

Chen Gui covered his ears. “I don’t talk to cross-dressers.”

Si Chen’s eyes widened as he looked at Dan Fusheng.

“Ahahaha, Inner Demon, Inner Demon.” Dan Fusheng waved his hands repeatedly. “His personality is a bit strange right now. Even the dignified True Monarch Yaoling is hiding in a tree; don’t take it personally.”

Si Chen was about to say something more, but a tree branch struck his head. The branch was thrown by Chen Gui.

“He, he, he…”

“He’s like a child right now; don’t mind him,” Dan Fusheng spoke up for Chen Gui.

Chen Gui declared, “Even if you did mind, you couldn’t beat me.”

It was the truth, but it wasn’t something he would normally say. Chen Gui continued to throw branches—not imbued with spiritual energy, merely thrown by hand. The attack power was low, but the insult was immense. His remaining sliver of morality prevented him from directly attacking, but he was still fuming inside.

Jade Mastiff, passing by outside the courtyard, looked up and exclaimed, “Eh? True Monarch Yaoling? What are you doing?” Was this some strange form of cultivation?

No sooner had he asked than a branch, about the thickness of a pinky finger, struck the top of his head. It seemed Chen Gui had thrown it.

“Eh?” Jade Mastiff didn’t understand why Chen Gui had thrown something at him. An ordinary branch hitting one’s head didn’t hurt.

Chen Gui squatted in the tree, secretly pleased. He felt better; not so angry anymore. He had finally hit that annoying big white fox.