The Demon Lord tilted his head, met her gaze, and nodded gently.
With his tacit approval, Jian Lin took a deep breath to steady her nerves and summoned Tao Niang.
A flash of peach-pink light appeared, and Tao Niang materialized gracefully, landing lightly on Jian Lin’s shoulder. She opened her bewildered eyes, unsure of her whereabouts.
Ever since Xie Jin returned, Jian Lin had avoided unnecessary complications and hadn't summoned her.
Therefore, for Tao Niang, her last memory was still of the comfortable side hall in the Demon Palace. The sudden change in scenery meant she didn't immediately notice anything amiss.
“This is my good friend, Tao Niang, who is a peach demon in her true form,” Jian Lin introduced to the tree-person. “Your familiarity, Huai Yin Jun, might stem from her.”
Only then did Tao Niang notice the colossal tree-person. Startled, she clutched Jian Lin’s head. The immense and minuscule colliding, from the tree-person's perspective, Tao Niang was perhaps no bigger than an ant.
And Tao Niang realized that what she thought was a black cave was actually the pupil of an acquaintance.
“So that’s it,” the tree-person shifted a finger closer. A branch suddenly sprouted from his withered finger, growing thinner and thinner until, at its tip, a small, pure white, translucent flower bloomed, extending right to Tao Niang’s hand. “This is a welcoming gift for you. Please accept it, little friend.”
Tao Niang’s heart warmed, her fear receding. She reached out, plucked the small white flower, and said softly, “Thank you, Huai Yin Jun.”
Huai Yin Jun slowly blinked, withdrew his finger, and turned his gaze to the Demon Lord. “May I ask what brings you here, young friend Mo Yan?”
“I recently visited the Demon Realm,” the Demon Lord stated with certainty. “I accidentally acquired a wonderful item and specifically came to present it to you, Huai Yin Jun. I believe you will like it.”
“Oh? And what might that be?” Huai Yin Jun inquired with interest.
“Water from the Heavenly River,” the Demon Lord produced a white jade porcelain bottle from his embrace. “I know you have long suffered from thirst. Though this bottle of divine water is not much, it should certainly alleviate your discomfort.”
“Water from the Heavenly River…” Huai Yin Jun fell into recollection and said slowly, “The last one to bring me water was Divine Venerable Li Yang. A thousand years have passed in the blink of an eye. Thank you for your thoughtfulness, young friend Mo Yan. I indeed need it.”
“In that case, please accept it, Huai Yin Jun.” The Demon Lord pointed with both hands, and the white jade porcelain bottle floated forward, disappearing into Huai Yin Jun’s brow.
Huai Yin Jun closed his eyes, his leaves rustling. In the quiet dense forest, a sound of growth seemed to emanate. Jian Lin listened intently, unsure of what it was, but a sense of reverence arose within her.
She asked the system, “Huai Yin Jun, is he a god?”
Whether it was an illusion or not, the system’s voice became much gentler. “No, he was born with heaven and earth. He is a form of existence.”
A form of existence. Jian Lin pondered the meaning, her reverence turning into respect.
After a long while, Huai Yin Jun let out a sigh of contentment and slowly opened his eyes. “I like it very much. I wonder what gift I should offer in return, young friend.”
The Demon Lord clasped his hands and bowed deeply. “I wish for a fruit from Huai Yin Jun.”
“A fruit?” Huai Yin Jun was quite surprised. “I have many fruits, but to maintain the balance of heaven and earth, I never allow fruits to leave my body.”
The Demon Lord raised his head, looking directly into Huai Yin Jun’s eyes. “I know. That is why I am merely requesting, hoping Huai Yin Jun will give me one.”
After a moment of silence, Huai Yin Jun spoke. “I believe young friend Mo Yan will not do evil. I will give it to you.”
The Demon Lord’s expression softened, and a smile appeared. “Thank you for your trust, Huai Yin Jun. I swear here that I will absolutely not misuse it.”
Jian Lin glanced at him, her heart filled with boundless emotion. Huai Yin Jun trusted that the Demon Lord would not do evil. Being trusted by Huai Yin Jun felt like an affirmation from heaven and earth. Was this normal for the Demon Lord?
Recalling her time knowing the Demon Lord, he had never actually done anything wicked. The reason he became the Demon Lord was simply that he used a cultivation method that defied the heavenly way, and was thus defined as a demon by the immortal sects.
And now, the Demon Lord could be friends with Huai Yin Jun. Was he truly a person who defied the heavenly way? Jian Lin couldn’t help but fall into deep thought.
A piece of jade-green fruit appeared from Huai Yin Jun’s brow, carrying a refreshing scent of plants and trees. It drifted down before the Demon Lord. He reached out and caught it, bowing deeply once more.
After that, the two chatted for a while longer. Around noon, the Demon Lord bid farewell to Huai Yin Jun and left with Jian Lin.
Jian Lin had a stomach full of questions, such as how the Demon Lord knew Huai Yin Jun, where he got the Heavenly River water, and what the fruit was used for.
As soon as they left the abyss basin, Jian Lin couldn't wait to ask.
The two stood on the mountaintop, facing the cold wind. The Demon Lord spoke first, handing the jade-green fruit to Jian Lin. “This fruit can be used as a vessel for a golden core. I am giving it to you now. Remember to keep it safe.”
Jian Lin was startled and quickly waved her hands in refusal. “No, no, no. Such a precious item was obtained by the Demon Lord through begging. I cannot accept it.”
“If you don’t accept it, who else can I give it to?” the Demon Lord said with utmost seriousness. “Among those close to me, there is only you. Without a golden core, this item is only needed by you.”
What he said, though a bit infuriating, was truly touching!
Jian Lin stood frozen, her heart feeling a sour, swelling sensation. The meaning behind the Demon Lord’s words was that he had specifically sought this for her. He was too good to her.
Did she truly deserve it?
Seeing her silence, the Demon Lord patiently explained, “You might be able to find out why you haven’t cultivated a golden core by going to Guanlan Sect, but it’s unlikely you’ll find a solution. Regardless, your spiritual energy is currently weak, and your cultivation of demonic energy is slow. You might cultivate for ten years and still not form a golden core. Now, there is a faster option. Why wouldn’t you take it?”
“Because it goes against heavenly principles,” Jian Lin said blankly. “A golden core should be cultivated by oneself. Gaining something without effort is not the right path.”
“You are in the Demon Sect, what are you talking about right paths?” the Demon Lord mocked without mercy. “Human lifespan is only a mere hundred years. You have already wasted the best phase of your life. If you hesitate any longer, you’ll soon become an old woman.”
Jian Lin was startled. Those words struck a chord!
As long as Jian Lin couldn’t cultivate a golden core, her appearance would change with the passage of time. By then, when she was seventy or eighty, how could she face the eternally youthful and handsome Demon Lord?
“I, I want it!” Jian Lin exclaimed loudly. “The Demon Lord is right. I shouldn’t be stubborn. I already betrayed Guanlan Sect long ago, so what am I talking about right paths? I’m simply muddled!”
The Demon Lord nodded with satisfaction and placed the fruit into Jian Lin’s palm. “Keep it safe. This is the only one. If you lose it or break it, I will absolutely not beg for another for you.”
Jian Lin looked at the fruit in her palm, suppressing her surging emotions, and promised with unwavering determination, “I won’t. The fruit is with me. If the fruit is lost, I will not live.”
“Very good. Remember what you said today,” the Demon Lord reached out and grasped Jian Lin’s wrist. “Let’s go. We’ll head down the mountain and continue our journey.”
Back on the small boat, looking up at the blue sky and white clouds, the sun intermittently appeared. It was the best time of day.
Jian Lin sat side-by-side with the Demon Lord at the bow of the boat and asked curiously, “Lord Demon Lord, you said you got the Heavenly River water from the Demon Realm. Where did you get it? I never heard you mention it.”
“I traded for it with Boss Snake,” the Demon Lord replied lazily, his eyes closed. “I didn’t want to mention it to you because it would require a lot of explanation, and I found it bothersome.”
Jian Lin was momentarily speechless. Disregarding the Demon Lord’s disdain, she shamelessly asked, “Lord Demon Lord, how did you know that Huai Yin Jun’s fruit could be used as a vessel for a golden core?”
“My father told me,” the Demon Lord answered perfunctorily. “As for how my father knew, I don’t know.”
“Oh,” Jian Lin responded and was about to ask further, “Then, Demon—”
“If you ask one more question,” the Demon Lord opened a slit of his eyes, emitting a cold, sharp glint, “do you believe I’ll kick you overboard?”
Yes, Jian Lin truly believed it. No matter how good the Demon Lord was to her, he couldn’t change his dog-like, obnoxious nature.
She dejectedly got up and slipped into the boat’s canopy. Seeing the boatman rowing diligently, she reached out and set up a barrier. Hiding in a corner, she summoned Tao Niang, wanting to see the flower Huai Yin Jun had given her.
Tao Niang stood on the table and handed the white flower to Jian Lin.
Jian Lin carefully took it and examined it closely in her palm, softly asking Tao Niang, “What is this little flower for? Can it replenish your demonic energy?”
This was her biggest concern right now. If this little flower could replenish Tao Niang’s demonic energy, it would be an immense surprise.
“I don’t feel any demonic energy,” Tao Niang was also full of confusion. “Is Huai Yin Jun a deity? The things he bestows must have nothing to do with demonic energy.”
“That can’t be right,” Jian Lin found it difficult to ascertain Huai Yin Jun’s attributes. “I don’t think he’s a god, but he is a very powerful being. The things he gives are definitely not ordinary. You should keep it well. Perhaps it will be of great use someday.”
Tao Niang tilted her head and smiled. She took the flower from Jian Lin’s palm and held it to her chest, saying piously, “Even if this flower is of no use to me, I will cherish it dearly.”
“That’s reasonable, that’s reasonable,” Jian Lin agreed with a smile. “My perspective was too narrow.”
“What does perspective mean?” Tao Niang asked.
“It means a person’s knowledge, thoughts, and judgment of the world,” Jian Lin said, deliberately to amuse Tao Niang. “I am not as good as you in these aspects.”
“Miss A Pei is truly humble…”
Laughter continued within the boat canopy. Jian Lin’s barrier was useless to the Demon Lord. He listened quietly, a smile unconsciously appearing on his face. She really talked a lot.
As night fell again, the small boat sailed out of the mountains and reached an open shallow beach. From afar, it looked flat and boundless. They had arrived in human territory.
The Demon Lord raised his hand to pay the boatman with spirit stones. Jian Lin eagerly jumped off, looking at the distant lights, and exclaimed excitedly, “Is that the human world? A small village! I’ve arrived in the human world!”
What did arriving in the human world mean? It meant good food, fun, no need to worry about strange demonic arts, no need to worry about dying at any moment. She had transmigrated, experienced life and death, and could finally relax!
“Don’t get carried away!” the Demon Lord’s voice reminded her. “We came out with important business to attend to. I’ll ask you one thing: what is our relationship now?”
Oh right, after leaving the Demon Realm, she couldn’t call him the Demon Lord anymore.
Jian Lin reacted instinctively. She didn’t want to be a maid anymore. She hugged the Demon Lord’s arm and shamelessly shouted, “Master! From today onwards, you are my master!”