Unexpected Reunions and Startling Revelations

Dan Fusheng and the others were there to assist with the investigation, but the true tasks at hand required no input from three children. Indeed, in their current forms, they couldn’t even comprehend the matters being discussed.

While Bai Yu conversed with the City Lord about serious affairs, the three children were led away to wander about. Guiding them was a female merfolk named Quanyan—a Great Demoness who had known Dan Fusheng in the past. However, the ten-year-old Dan Fusheng of the present did not recognize her.

“Are the merfolk’s demon forms truly beautiful?” Dan Fusheng, completely unafraid of strangers, inquired. Upon seeing her exquisite human features, he had developed a keen interest in her kind.

“Purely in terms of appearance?” Quanyan’s expression was somewhat peculiar. “Erm, our human faces are indeed the type your kind would find appealing. This natural gift is somewhat similar to the Demon Race. Our limbs are also slender.”

“Wow!” Dan Fusheng’s eyes sparkled. “Is your true figure also amazing?!”

“Senior Brother! That question is too offensive!” Chen Gui quickly grabbed Dan Fusheng’s wrist, his face burning.

Ying Wangyou, however, saw no issue and continued to run around.

“For a fish, my figure is truly splendid!” Quanyan proudly lifted her head. “My true form is especially magnificent! I’ll show you!”

With that, she transformed into her demon form.

Her long, ink-green hair flowed freely in the water like seaweed. As she had stated, her human limbs were long and graceful. However, her head connected directly to her fish body, completely lacking a neck. In her true form, she resembled a massive, elegant catfish. Where pectoral fins should have been, two slender human arms extended, and two beautiful human legs emerged from the front of her caudal fin.

Dan Fusheng’s pupils constricted in absolute horror.

Quanyan couldn’t help but laugh. “You always react this way the first time you see me!” She found his stunned expression quite amusing.

“But, but my Master said…”

“Your Master said merfolk tails grow from the waist down, right?” Quanyan said with clear disdain. “Those exist too, but they’re considered ugly freaks.”

“Ah?! Ugly freaks?!”

“That kind is usually the result of merfolk interbreeding with humans. They’re neither fully merfolk nor human, they can’t swim fast, their mermaid-silk quality is poor, and the pearls from their tears aren’t round or bright enough.” Quanyan swept her hair back. “They truly are ugly freaks. You shouldn’t judge by human standards. Humans prefer human-like features, but demons favor their true forms. Speaking of which, I even taught you how to weave jiaosha once. I saw you selling it online not long ago.”

She draped an arm over Dan Fusheng’s shoulder and shook him gently, jolting him back to reality.

“I can do that?!” Dan Fusheng’s eyes widened. “Do I actually have a talent for it?”

“Your talent is truly terrible, but your cultivation compensates for the flaws.” Quanyan reverted to her human form. “It’s barely passable; you just can’t fool high-ranking merfolk. I actually bought a piece of yours back to examine it. It was quite amusing.”

“…Can I call you by your name, Quanyan?” Dan Fusheng asked her.

“Of course you can. Your actual age is greater than mine; you are the true ‘senior’ here,” she replied with a smile.

Dan Fusheng was curious about one thing: “Are we friends?”

“Not exactly.” Quanyan found a spot to sit. The two boys settled beside her, while only Ying Wangyou continued to roam. “We should probably be considered… fellow patients?” She tilted her head slightly. “I think neither of us was quite normal at that time.”

“What does ‘fellow patients’ mean? You’re sick, and I take care of you?” Dan Fusheng refused to admit he had any mental issues.

“Ha! Don’t put it that way. I’ve seen you driven mad by Inner Demons,” Quanyan waved her hand. “I also had Inner Demons back then; neither of us could take care of the other.”

Chen Gui wanted to hear more, but Quanyan declined to elaborate. Instead, she led them to the Underwater City’s famous landmark, the “Dragon Gate.”

[Senior Brother tormented by Inner Demons? Tormented to the point of madness?] the Inner Demon let out a sobbing sound in Chen Gui’s mind.

Chen Gui: “…”

[At that time, I couldn’t protect Senior Brother. I couldn’t be by his side. How dare those Inner Demons bully him? Bad things!] Feeling pained, the Inner Demon began to condemn its own kind.

[So you plan to leave me?] Chen Gui asked.

[Whether I leave or not isn’t up to me; it’s up to you,] the Inner Demon replied. It could not detach itself from Chen Gui’s body on its own.

Chen Gui no longer wanted to bother with the Inner Demon, but the voice was invigorated: [Go quickly and understand Senior Brother, then inspire him!]

Chen Gui did not respond, but he indeed wished to understand what had transpired. His gaze occasionally fell upon Quanyan. She noticed but did not directly inquire. ‘These senior and junior brothers are quite interesting.’

Later, Ying Wangyou tried to drag her two junior brothers to climb the Dragon Gate. Chen Gui refused, stating that he preferred to sit.

“You—”

Chen Gui shook his head. “I’ll just watch you all. It’s fine.”

Dan Fusheng and Ying Wangyou left to climb the structures.

“He thinks you’re being neglected and is holding it in,” Quanyan said, looking at Chen Gui. “Speak. What do you want to ask?”

[Quick, ask her!] the Inner Demon urged.

“My, my Senior Brother…” Chen Gui stammered, but Dan Fusheng suddenly appeared beside him, and Chen Gui felt his three souls and seven spirits almost scatter from fright.

Dan Fusheng helped him steady himself, then asked, “You want to ask about your Senior Brother?”

Chen Gui could only manage a whisper: “Me, Senior Brother, you, me.”

“This child probably wants to care for you,” Quanyan said helplessly. “Ever since I mentioned we were ‘fellow patients,’ he’s been looking left and right, completely ill at ease.”

“So he wants to secretly learn about me?” Dan Fusheng understood. He had thought his junior brother couldn’t stand his and his Senior Sister’s personalities and had some unspoken worries.

Chen Gui’s face flushed an exaggerated red. Fortunately, Dan Fusheng did not press further. He steadied Chen Gui, then lightly swept a hand over his back, causing Chen Gui to jump aside.

“You continue to learn, haha, continue to learn.” Dan Fusheng retracted his hand, gave an awkward laugh, and then followed his Senior Sister.

Chen Gui looked back at Quanyan, who shrugged. She began to recount her encounter with Dan Fusheng.

“To be honest, I wanted to kill him then. I wanted to snatch his storage artifact. But there was a significant power difference between us, so I could only use illusions.” At that time, Quanyan was consumed with thoughts of murder and plunder. Her own state was far from normal.

“I almost succeeded several times! But his awakenings were always so timely. I played True Monarch You Qing, his friends, his deceased subordinates, and even you. As for the reason, he never told me. Later, after he sobered up, he simply captured me.” Quanyan had even spent a few years in a Demon Race prison.

Chen Gui: “…Then you knew nothing at all?”

“Not entirely. At least I know he was exceptionally gentle whenever he faced you,” Quanyan spread her hands.

“Shouldn’t he be gentle? We will be partners in the future.” Chen Gui still felt he hadn’t received any useful information.

Quanyan, however, was startled by Chen Gui’s words. “You said you two are what?!”

“We will be partners.”

Quanyan: “…”

Quanyan: “?!!!”

High up on the Dragon Gate, Dan Fusheng, who was currently climbing with his Senior Sister, was abruptly yanked down by a powerful force. He was a bit bewildered. “Please, what happened?”

Quanyan stuffed a pile of coral pearls into his arms.

Dan Fusheng maintained his bewildered expression. “Eh?”

Meanwhile, in the main hall, Bai Yu and the City Lord had failed to reach any administrative conclusion. Both parties decided to eat first and then continue.

When the City Lord called Quanyan, asking her to bring the three children back, she instead invited the City Lord and Bai Yu to join a banquet.

“What banquet?” The City Lord didn’t understand.

“Dan Fusheng and Chen Gui’s engagement banquet. Alright, I’m hanging up now; I still have arrangements to make,” Quanyan said, ending the call.

City Lord: “???”

Bai Yu gasped, then choked on seawater.

“Chuan Chuan! Don’t inhale through your nose underwater!” The City Lord quickly helped him regulate his breathing.

“My name is Bai Yu! I told you, you can’t just call me Chuan Chuan because you think I’m a hybrid.” Bai Yu, however, wasn’t angry. He understood how difficult the aquatic demon race could be to deal with. These lunatics brought their personal emotions into their work!

The City Lord’s phone rang again. It was still Quanyan. “City Lord! Something big has happened!!”

“I don’t know if she was stimulated, but Her Highness suddenly transformed into her adult form,” Quanyan yelled.

“Stimulated by what?!” The City Lord became agitated.

“It seems her two junior brothers’ engagement scene stimulated her! She was trembling beside them just now; I thought she was overjoyed!” Quanyan watched as Ying Wangyou rushed forward, grabbed her two junior brothers, and pulled them away.

Originally, Ying Wangyou had only been slightly uncomfortable, but seeing her two junior brothers standing together holding flowers completely overwhelmed her. Rage surged to her head. Playing house was fine, but they absolutely could not truly get engaged!

“You are blood-related Senior and Junior Brothers!!” she roared, throwing Chen Gui aside, then smacking Dan Fusheng’s backside several times. “You raised this child! And you raise him like this?!”

She beat Dan Fusheng with pure spiritual power; her anger was completely unaffected by the water.

“Senior Sister! Senior Sister!” The ten-year-old Dan Fusheng covered his backside. “I don’t know! I have no memory of him right now! I can’t give you an explanation!” He was truly innocent; he was just a ten-year-old child!

Ying Wangyou, literally enraged into her adult dragon form, completely ignored his pleas. “He was raised by you! I’m only settling scores with you!”

Chen Gui swam over to stop her, but his strength was too meager. As Ying Wangyou swung her palms, Chen Gui could only act as a “ribbon” on her arm. “Don’t hit Senior Brother!” Chen Gui vigorously pedaled his legs, attempting to restrain her.

Ying Wangyou had a headache. Why was her junior brother so stubborn?

However, she soon no longer needed to fret over it, for Dan Fusheng and Chen Gui also suddenly shot up and grew into their adult forms due to the pure shock of the situation.

Quanyan, standing nearby, became vigilant.

Dan Fusheng and Chen Gui’s adult forms were too sudden. From their bewildered expressions, it was clear they hadn’t fully integrated their adult memories yet. The gazes of these two living ancestors met. Then, Dan Fusheng pulled a mocking smile, while Chen Gui’s brows furrowed deeply.

Alarm bells rang loudly in Quanyan’s mind. She immediately retreated, and in the next second, Dan Fusheng and Chen Gui began to fight.

Ying Wangyou, who had just been beating her second junior brother, was stunned. “??”

“The Millennium of Chaos! They are currently lost in their memories of the Millennium of Chaos!” Quanyan shouted a warning.

Ying Wangyou only remembered primal emotions at this point, and since she hadn’t participated in the Millennium of Chaos, she didn’t understand the context. When the seawater was stained red with blood, she finally realized the problem was severe. Why were these two fighting to the death?

Ying Wangyou pulled Dan Fusheng back, but Chen Gui, seizing the opportunity while Dan Fusheng was restrained, thrust a sword directly into Dan Fusheng’s chest.

Ying Wangyou shifted her body, swapping places with Dan Fusheng. “Chen Gui! Stop!!”

Chen Gui still gripped his sword, not pushing it further. “Dan Fusheng! What did you do to me?!”

[You’re not allowed to hit Senior Brother!!] The Inner Demon shrieked in his mind, but Chen Gui completely ignored it. Despite having memories from his childhood form, his adult self still believed this was Dan Fusheng’s doing.

“You little bastard!” Dan Fusheng spun back around, facing Chen Gui. “What’s going on with that stuff in your own head? How could I possibly know?!”

“So annoying!” Dan Fusheng gnashed his teeth. At this moment, his memory was stuck on the period when his plans were constantly being disrupted by Chen Gui. This Chen Gui was truly infuriating. Unaffected by external forces, he only saw the essence of things.

The Yu Kingdom remnants, unable to integrate into the Great Sect, had clashed with the native people. As the conflicts intensified, some had taken desperate measures, wishing to completely transform the Great Sect into a second Yu Kingdom and restore the royal family there. This ultimately led to a grand spectacle of “assassinating the king and killing the emperor.”

The plan had originally been quite successful. After all, the Yu Kingdom was destroyed by the Demon Lord Dan Fusheng. With the Demon Race as such a great enemy before them, it was only natural and reasonable for them to shelter these humans. If they had truly resolved to “cleanse” these people, Dan Fusheng was certain that their internal divisions would only accelerate.

However, after the situation escalated, Chen Gui had pondered and concluded that since the root cause lay with these old remnants and officials, wouldn’t it be better to simply send them back? At that time, the Yu Kingdom was already Demon Race territory. Humans and demons were irreconcilable, so Chen Gui’s actions, from a human perspective, were tantamount to sending these people into the “tiger’s mouth.” As former allies of the Yu Kingdom, how could they do such a thing as to kick someone when they were down?

Chen Gui believed that these demons didn’t abuse ordinary people, and these individuals could indeed be sent back. The Great Sect’s group of bleeding hearts wanted to argue with Chen Gui, but Chen Gui beat them all up. After the beating, he led those people away, eventually throwing them back into the former Yu Kingdom’s territory. He cared neither for arguments nor for moral integrity.

He was called cold-blooded and heartless by humans for over a decade because of this, but the problem was solved, and he had indeed ruined Dan Fusheng’s scheme.

Dan Fusheng now felt he should have taken the opportunity to wring the neck of this damned junior brother back then! This little bastard was his absolute bane!

Dan Fusheng was genuinely delighted to see his Senior Sister again. He smiled at her. “Senior Sister, it’s truly wonderful that you’re alive.”

Ying Wangyou felt her heart tremble slightly, followed immediately by a surge of bitterness. She loosened her grip slightly, and Dan Fusheng darted out like a fish, directly swinging a punch at Chen Gui.

The fist ultimately failed to land on Chen Gui’s face. It wasn’t that Chen Gui blocked it, but rather a clump of white fur suddenly appeared between them. Dan Fusheng’s fist struck the white fur, sending it flying far away.

Both Dan Fusheng and Chen Gui were stunned. Dan Fusheng narrowed his eyes, watching the spinning white fur recede, and finally realized it was his own dog/fox.

“Doggy!” Dan Fusheng cried out and chased after it.

A large, long-haired Jade Mastiff was truly difficult to distinguish head from tail underwater. Fortunately, its legs were long. Dan Fusheng grabbed its leg, preventing it from flying further away.

“Doggy! Are you alright?!” Dan Fusheng shook the Jade Mastiff. The Jade Mastiff spat out a mouthful of blood, which stained the surrounding seawater red.

The Jade Mastiff accused, “You really hit Junior Brother hard…” Fortunately, his cultivation was no longer low.

At this moment, Dan Fusheng’s memory included the Jade Mastiff, but he only remembered picking him up a few months ago. “Doggy! You won’t die, will you?”

“You should be younger than me right now, so how is your cultivation so high?!” Jade Mastiff grumbled.

“Doggy, you need not feel inferior in front of a genius.” Dan Fusheng gently stroked the Jade Mastiff’s snout. “Speaking of which, why does that extended memory of mine show you as a fox? Was that memory fabricated?”

The Jade Mastiff pushed Dan Fusheng away. “No, you just misidentified me. Also…” The Jade Mastiff felt that Dan Fusheng and Chen Gui in their current states absolutely couldn’t coexist peacefully. So, the Jade Mastiff decided to spread a rumor to pacify Chen Gui: “You two really are a couple. That thing in Chen Gui’s mind is also his Inner Demon.”

Chen Gui, who had just arrived, snorted coldly upon hearing this. “Absolutely impossible! I wish I could tear him to shreds; how could I possibly like him?”

The Jade Mastiff cleared his throat. “When your Senior Brother went down the mountain, he promised to record everything he saw and heard along the way, compile it into a travelogue, and give it to you, right?”

Chen Gui’s brows furrowed even deeper.

“He didn’t forget.” As the Jade Mastiff said this, he couldn’t help but glance at Dan Fusheng, whose smile visibly froze. “If you check your storage artifact now, you’ll still find that book in there.”

Chen Gui actually checked his storage artifact. Soon, the book appeared in his hand. Even the Jade Mastiff was startled upon seeing it.

The book’s cover had changed. It bore the words [My Senior Brother], and at the end, a small heart was drawn.

When Chen Gui’s mind was controlled by the Inner Demon, he would flip through this book whenever he had a spare moment, leaving countless traces on it. For instance, he had given the book a new cover and added his own opinions and interpretations after Dan Fusheng’s travel notes. An Inner Demon is an extremely obsessive entity. Chen Gui, under its control, was not quite normal.

His comments were filled with affection for his Senior Brother; countless hand-drawn hearts served as punctuation marks. And the handwriting was indeed his, imbued with his spiritual power.

Ah?
Ah??
Ah?!!!

Dan Fusheng was also shocked; his faint smile was nearly impossible to maintain.

Chen Gui flipped to the very end, where he saw a hand-drawn picture of himself and Dan Fusheng holding a wedding. At that time, Chen Gui, almost obsessively, wanted all three privileges. He didn’t quite understand what love was, but he absolutely had to possess his Senior Brother.

Chen Gui silently closed the notebook. He didn’t look at Dan Fusheng. “I’m going for a walk to clear my head.”

Dan Fusheng also dared not look at Chen Gui. ‘Wait, no! We were just fighting a moment ago, how did we suddenly end up in this kind of relationship?’

Dan Fusheng silently led the Jade Mastiff in the opposite direction. The Jade Mastiff was also bewildered. ‘No! Are these two serious?! That notebook can’t be right!’

At this moment, the City Lord had just understood the full story from Quanyan. He saw no problem; it was wonderful! These two were finally getting along. Love was a good thing! What was this called?! A fated couple!

Ying Wangyou still felt something was amiss. She believed her senior brother shouldn’t be dating his junior brother. She, for example, couldn’t imagine dating her own junior brother.

After Ying Wangyou voiced her concerns, the City Lord objected. “Dragons don’t usually date much anyway; you likely can’t even imagine yourself dating anyone else.” The reproduction of the Dragon Race had always been a major issue. There were few dragons to begin with, even fewer who found each other appealing, and the probability of pregnancy was low.

Ying Wangyou thought it over and found it made sense, but Chen Gui had still been raised by Dan Fusheng. That was too strange.

“They didn’t fall for each other from childhood. They’re both over two thousand years old now; they know what they’re doing.” The City Lord, after comforting her, couldn’t help but clap his hands. “How wonderful! You see, once their feelings for each other are revealed, they stop fighting and become shy.”

Quanyan couldn’t help but interject, “To be honest, I think it’s more like their worldviews have collapsed.”

“They’re shy,” the City Lord corrected Quanyan.

Before Quanyan could retort, the City Lord summoned his subordinates and instructed them to call Dan Fusheng and Chen Gui back.

However, upon their return, the City Lord began to lecture them extensively about “true love” and “reconciliation after estrangement.” Finally, the City Lord took their hands, solemnly placing them together. “You must take good care of each other.”

“I don’t think so. My Senior Sister doesn’t support us being together.” After his body stiffened, Dan Fusheng quickly found an excuse to shift the blame. He didn’t know why his future self would be with Chen Gui, but he desperately wanted to sabotage this relationship now. He with Chen Gui? How could this little bastard possibly let him off easy?

“Right! Senior Sister doesn’t support it!” Chen Gui also nodded repeatedly.

They both looked at Ying Wangyou, hoping she would beat either of them again. It wasn’t that they wanted to escape; it was truly because there was an “evil person” obstructing them!

Ying Wangyou coldly chuckled twice. “Don’t try to shift the blame to me, you two little rascals.”

Dan Fusheng began to ponder whether killing Chen Gui directly would cause his future self to develop an Inner Demon. He had already developed enough Inner Demons and possessed ample experience in battling them.

Feeling Chen Gui’s tense hand, Dan Fusheng knew that Chen Gui’s thoughts were similar to his own. However, as Chen Gui tensed, he suddenly lost strength, cold sweat beading on his forehead. Chen Gui abruptly pulled his hand back, then looked at Dan Fusheng with a… timid gaze.

‘Hmm?’ Dan Fusheng suspected he had seen wrong. What was wrong with Chen Gui? Dan Fusheng did not withdraw his hand; instead, he reached towards Chen Gui.

Chen Gui quickly retreated ten meters. “Don’t touch me!”

Dan Fusheng frowned. Then he spoke his mind directly: “Are you sick?”

“You’re the one who’s sick! You…” His voice grew softer again; he didn’t even dare to refute Dan Fusheng.

Dan Fusheng was utterly bewildered. Had this child been possessed?

Chen Gui’s lips trembled. And the Inner Demon in his mind was still saying: [That’s right, don’t argue with Senior Brother.] It was very smug; it had finally controlled its most ferocious self.

Chen Gui responded: [Was everything you just said true?]

The Inner Demon hummed. [True! Absolutely true! We and Senior Brother did indeed sleep together! That’s why I was suppressed. You know I’m an Inner Demon! My obsession is Senior Brother!] The Inner Demon used its imagination, then secretly stole Chen Gui’s own fantasies. [You know, the last time we slept, Senior Brother even stroked my head and called me a good junior brother!]

Chen Gui’s face turned red. “That’s preposterous!!”

After saying that, he pointed at Dan Fusheng’s nose and cursed, “Demon! You are too preposterous!”

Dan Fusheng also pointed at himself. He didn’t understand what kind of psychological upheaval Chen Gui was experiencing. “Me? What did I do to you?”

Chen Gui, seething, enunciated each word: “Nothing! At! All!”

“Sick.” Dan Fusheng wanted to go elsewhere for a while, but this time Chen Gui followed him. Dan Fusheng’s eyes widened. He tried to evade Chen Gui, but when he turned a corner, Chen Gui also turned.

“Do you want to fight?”

“Who wants to fight you?!” Chen Gui’s response was still loud.

Dan Fusheng couldn’t fathom what was going on, and Chen Gui had no intention of explaining; he simply followed Dan Fusheng.

Dan Fusheng looked at the City Lord, who shrugged. He then looked at the Jade Mastiff, who looked back. They all didn’t know what to do. Dan Fusheng had no choice; he could only temporarily let Chen Gui follow him.

In this state, Dan Fusheng could participate in the discussions between the City Lord and Bai Yu. After learning the full story, Dan Fusheng quickly realized a crucial question: was he truly shrunk by his Master’s spell?

According to the City Lord, the dragon egg had always been there, buried beneath the Dragon Gate, but it should have been a dead egg. Five years ago, the egg suddenly cracked, but they couldn’t find Ying Wangyou. She had disappeared to who knew where.

The City Lord had only recently learned that Ying Wangyou went to the land after receiving official documents and then understood her background. But Dan Fusheng had returned after a thousand years of exile. At that time, his Master was dead, and his Senior Sister had suddenly resurrected to find him.

Dan Fusheng suspected that he had shrunk to avoid trouble. And what about Chen Gui? Was Chen Gui brought along by him? Was his relationship with Chen Gui that good? And no one suspected them for doing this? That didn’t seem right. If Chen Gui had truly become his intimate lover, then True Monarch Yaoling’s words and actions would lose much of their credibility in the eyes of the world.

Dan Fusheng looked back at Chen Gui. So, how exactly did he persuade Chen Gui? Dan Fusheng felt he needed to observe more, but he could now basically confirm that his shrinking was not his Master’s doing.

Everyone sat down for the engagement banquet of Dan Fusheng and Chen Gui. Dan Fusheng and Chen Gui were unwilling to cooperate with the ceremony, so Jade Mastiff dragged Si Chen to play instead.

After eating, they went to the Dragon Gate.

The City Lord pointed to an empty space beneath the Dragon Gate stone pillar, indicating that the dragon egg had been buried there before. Dan Fusheng bent down and touched the soil on the ground. There was nothing special about it.

He then looked up at the towering Dragon Gate. “I have a question. Leaping over the Dragon Gate can indeed lead to dragon transformation, but not this Dragon Gate. This is merely a tourist attraction. Then where is the Dragon Gate that can lead to dragon transformation?”

“It’s here.” The City Lord pointed to his brow. “All aquatic races have a chance to transform into dragons. First, transform into a dragon, then seek ascension.”

Dan Fusheng understood. By analogy, their “Dragon Gate” was probably similar to his own vast number of Inner Demon tribulations. But still, something wasn’t right. “Then wouldn’t born dragons have a great advantage?”

“Indeed.” The City Lord smiled bitterly. “They don’t need to pursue dragon transformation; they only need to seek ascension.”

“Impossible,” Dan Fusheng waved his hand. “Absolutely impossible. Everyone is a seeker of the Dao; none are mortals. That immoral Heavenly Dao would never allow anything to take a shortcut.”

Everything easy to start with held enormous hidden dangers. Dan Fusheng’s cultivation also benefited from his Demon God bloodline, but his temperament couldn’t keep up with his cultivation, leading to Inner Demons tormenting him every other day. In fact, he remembered having just acquired a new Inner Demon two days ago, but his so-called memories should belong to a thousand years ago. His current body seemed perfectly fine, unaffected by Inner Demons.

Mortals’ lives might have shortcuts, because their endpoint was “death.” But for seekers of the Dao, it was different. Taking shortcuts led to endless trouble.

Dan Fusheng looked up at the Dragon Gate once more. He had actually been here before. He knew this Dragon Gate had no spiritual power; it wasn’t a magical artifact. “Senior Sister, who was born a dragon, has such a huge advantage. What then is her ‘Dragon Gate’?” What level of tribulation would be needed to compensate for such a “head start” in bloodline?

“Do you believe Her Highness’s transformation this time is a ‘Dragon Gate leap’?” The City Lord inquired.

“I don’t know; I’m only suspicious. I have no evidence.” Dan Fusheng looked at Ying Wangyou. “Senior Sister’s sudden transformation into her adult form this time might not necessarily be because of us.”

“Wait!” Si Chen seized a key point. “If your Senior Sister’s resurrection relies on her racial characteristics, then why did you two shrink?”

Dan Fusheng tried his best to open his slender eyes wide. He shrugged and waved his hands. “I don’t know, did you not say my Master did it? Then it should be related to my Master.”

“Really?!” Si Chen narrowed his eyes and leaned in.

“Do you think I’m lying?” Dan Fusheng pointed to Chen Gui beside him. “I might lie, but would True Monarch Yaoling also lie? He’s very honest. You can disbelieve me, but you must believe him.”

Si Chen was temporarily convinced. Indeed, Chen Gui’s mind was terrifyingly straightforward.

Dan Fusheng found nothing unusual near the Dragon Gate, so they temporarily settled in the Underwater City. Sleeping underwater was a rather peculiar experience. The City Lord enthusiastically provided them with nose clips to prevent them from forgetting to hold their breath while sleeping.

Dan Fusheng and Chen Gui were assigned to the same room. Dan Fusheng resisted, but his resistance was futile. Dan Fusheng refused to sleep, while Chen Gui continuously squatted in the corner.

The Inner Demon muttered in his ear: [Senior Brother is so sexy, isn’t he? Oh! Look! Senior Brother’s hem is floating with the water again! Senior Brother’s waistline is so good.]

Chen Gui gritted his teeth: [I’m not looking!]

Inner Demon: [You’re full of it! If your eyes weren’t staring, how could I see?! I’m just an Inner Demon, I don’t have eyes!]

Dan Fusheng: “Hmm? Why are you closing your eyes?”

“Is it any of your business?!” Chen Gui yelled.

“Alright, fine, I won’t meddle.” Dan Fusheng gave up. “I really don’t know what’s wrong with you today.”

Chen Gui let out a cold snort. Dan Fusheng paced around the room, while Chen Gui in the corner, annoyed by the Inner Demon’s live commentary, suddenly drew his sword and held it to his own neck.

Dan Fusheng: “?”

“I understand now! Our shrinking this time is definitely not normal! You incited me because we are partners.” Chen Gui reopened his eyes, his gaze sharp as a torch. At this moment, in Chen Gui’s eyes, his future self was a fool blinded by love. He didn’t know how his future self’s mind worked, but since that Chen Gui had already started covering for Dan Fusheng, it meant he had violated the Dao in his heart.

Such a self would be better off dead! Moreover, if he was Dan Fusheng’s lover, then if he died, Dan Fusheng would definitely develop a huge Inner Demon, and then Dan Fusheng would also be in danger! Two birds with one stone!

After condemning Dan Fusheng, Chen Gui was about to commit suicide. Dan Fusheng saw Chen Gui’s damned expression and immediately guessed what he was thinking. Dan Fusheng quickly reached out to snatch the sword.

Chen Gui dodged, Dan Fusheng pursued. Finally, Dan Fusheng grabbed Chen Gui’s sword-wielding wrist and pinned the boy to the ground.

Chen Gui tried to struggle, attempting to grab Dan Fusheng’s clothes to push him away. But with a ripping sound, the clothes tore, and Dan Fusheng remained motionless.

Chen Gui’s pupils constricted.

Inner Demon: [Wow!! You’re so scheming! Why isn’t he wearing a magical robe?!]

The moment their bodies elongated earlier, they had immediately pulled out clothes from their storage artifacts and put them on. Their speed was swift, but Chen Gui could see Dan Fusheng had taken them from his storage artifact! Why would ordinary clothes be in a storage artifact?

Inner Demon: [Senior Brother’s clothes were given away during a supermarket promotion. You tore them, Senior Brother will be sad. Quick, put the clothes on Senior Brother!]

Dan Fusheng also looked quite bewildered. He, too, glanced down at his clothes. He tugged at them, and a small piece of fabric tore off, floating away with the current. “…This actually isn’t a magical robe?”

Chen Gui: “…You didn’t know?”

“I thought this was some stealth technique of that future Dan Fusheng.” Thinking this, he went to probe his storage artifact again.

Indeed, there were many powerful magical artifacts and talismans, but the storage artifact contained even more: bottled oil, a refrigerator, an air conditioner, and was that a mahjong table? Oh! And a small mountain of discount coupons.

“You have an Inner Demon, right?” Dan Fusheng asked Chen Gui, listing the items in his storage artifact. “Can you have him explain what kind of job I do now?”

Chen Gui had grown suspicious the moment he heard “a pile of discount coupons.” ‘The Demon Lord’s life doesn’t seem to be going so well?’

Inner Demon: [Senior Brother is now a very capable team leader and teacher; his students are all ordinary human elders!]

Chen Gui: “…” He relayed the answer to Dan Fusheng.

This time, it was Dan Fusheng’s turn to fall silent. ‘Where were his ideals? His unwillingness to yield? Was this how it all ended? Would he truly manage nothing? Just let events unfold on their own?!’

Dan Fusheng felt it shouldn’t be so; this wasn’t his style. He searched his storage artifact and finally discovered a box. The aura of this box was shielded. ‘Was this a secret that the two-thousand-year-old Dan Fusheng didn’t want him to discover?’

Dan Fusheng retrieved the box, attempting to break the formation on it. Chen Gui watched for a while. Considering his identical predicament, he felt he should help. But Chen Gui quickly gave up. The formation on this box was too high-end; only Dan Fusheng’s spiritual power could activate it.

Chen Gui could only wait. Dan Fusheng tinkered alone for ten hours, and the box finally opened. Then Dan Fusheng took out a paper photograph from the box.

It was a picture of Dan Fusheng himself. He rested his head on his arms, smiling at the camera, his clothes half-open, looking somewhat improper. Beside his face, a line of text read [Jade-Faced Young Master].

Dan Fusheng looked at his own photograph, then at the empty box. He finally confirmed one thing.

He had been tricked!! He! The one-thousand-year-old Dan Fusheng! Had been tricked by the two-thousand-seven-hundred-year-old Dan Fusheng!!

The older Dan Fusheng was playing a prank on him! He even pranked himself!

At this moment, Dan Fusheng finally understood how others felt about him. Dan Fusheng spoke softly, “I hate Dan Fusheng.”

He released the photograph, and it drifted with the water currents directly in front of Chen Gui.

The Inner Demon shrieked, and Chen Gui’s brows were practically twisted into a knot. Chen Gui clicked his tongue. He reached out, grabbed the photo, and directly used spiritual power to blast it apart.

However, after the photo was destroyed, Dan Fusheng’s recorded voice echoed in the room: “Ah ha~ Junior Brother, you’re so fiery~”

Chen Gui froze. He hadn’t felt any spiritual power from this photo! ‘Wait! The clothes weren’t magical robes! Was this photo actually a magical artifact?! Dan Fusheng did this on purpose?! What was he after?!’

“Ah… cough…” The City Lord’s voice suddenly rang out.

Chen Gui and Dan Fusheng simultaneously looked towards the door. The City Lord had pushed the door open at the same moment the photo spoke. Chen Gui and Dan Fusheng had been so stunned by the strange photo that they hadn’t noticed the City Lord.

The City Lord glanced at the flushed Chen Gui, then at the disheveled, half-exposed Dan Fusheng.

Dan Fusheng’s hand trembled slightly; he wanted to kill the City Lord to silence him! Chen Gui even gripped his sword hilt tightly.

However, from behind the City Lord, a shocked white fox head emerged. Dan Fusheng gritted his teeth. ‘Just kill this dog too, at most, I’ll raise another one.’

Ying Wangyou’s head then poked out. ‘Senior Sister?! Could Senior Sister resurrect again? Have her mind formatted again?!’

And then came Si Chen, Bai Yu, and Quanyan.

Dan Fusheng: “I’m going to commit suicide.” ‘Might as well take future Dan Fusheng with him to die.’