Chapter 100 Part 1

At his core, Zhou Chen is a person who really knows how to enjoy life. Whether in the North Sea Ruins or the Taichu Continent, his hobby has never been to unify the Three Realms or command the Four Races - he thinks those are perverted hobbies, like the Heavenly Emperor Chengming.

Instead, he enjoys spending all day traveling around with Zhou Yin, and transforming Zhou Yin from a cultivation maniac into someone who also knows how to enjoy life like himself. It's just that due to various obstacles, this hobby can only be partially realized for now.

Even partially is good. Rarely having half a day of leisure, they found that Qingshi Town is not small, with several commercial and trade alleys crisscrossing around the inn where they live.

Zhou Chen would take Zhou Yin to listen to storytelling and jianghu gossip in the teahouse for half a day, then eat at the Drunken Immortal Restaurant. After the meal, they would return to the inn for a nap. In the afternoon, they would stroll around the alleys full of snacks, buying some plum blossom cakes and elm seed noodles to take back.

Life couldn't be more beautiful.

It must be said that His Majesty the Demon Beast Emperor is already living a life that doesn't envy mandarin ducks or immortals, so happy that he completely forgot about the bloody storms outside.

Of course, Zhou Yin hasn't forgotten. But since both entering and leaving the world are cultivation, he doesn't mind seeking his own path among the marketplace crowds and all walks of life.

The teahouse is bustling. Elderly locals of Qingshi Town who are relatively well-off come here every day to have tea and talk about recent news. Traveling merchants who stop here to rest also occasionally bring some recent news. The shop's waiters run around with long-spouted pots, adding tea and hot water to each table and handing out hot towels. There are also occasional shouts of ordering dishes interspersed.

This is the most common, real market life on the Taichu Continent. They are far from the aristocracy and even less aware of the lofty cultivators who are like deities, but this does not hinder their enthusiasm for this gossip.

Then someone was heard saying, "Did you all know, some time ago when the Tianyan Sect held a sect conference, demons came up out of nowhere!"

Another person said, "Of course I heard. Last month I transported some goods to Xiling and almost ran into those man-eating demon beasts. Many people died in the inn at that time. The demon beast had a human body but fangs longer than tigers and wolves, and arms thicker than bears. Its whole body was blood red, and those claws... tsk tsk! Don't even mention it, scared me into having nightmares for half a month!"

The attention of others was attracted. "So how did you escape in the end?"

That person vividly described it, making everyone hold their breath. Finally he said, "Fortunately there were cultivators present at the time, seemingly immortals from the Shangxuan Sect, who killed all those demon beasts. Otherwise I wouldn't have survived. But the immortals also lost a disciple. Thinking about it now, alas, it was brutal, too brutal!"

The others sighed in relief and laughed, "Then you really had great fortune. I heard that Shangxuan Sect is the number one sect in the world, even more powerful than Tianyan Sect!"

"Isn't that so! But I really didn't expect, I also heard someone say," that person lowered his voice mysteriously, "that those demon beasts were released by Tianyan Sect. This really confuses me. Don't they say that immortals all slay demons and eliminate evil? How did they get involved with demon beasts?"

"No way, are you mistaken?"

"Who knows, these things can't be carelessly said!"

"Who's talking nonsense! I heard it from my nephew who cultivates at Wanshan Sect, it can't be fake!"

Seeing the two of them red-faced and about to argue, the others hurriedly persuaded them. Someone else sighed, "But fortunately, I heard the demon beasts have all been killed now and won't appear again. We travel all over every day, hoping for peace of mind. Immortals' affairs are not our concern, as long as the common people are safe and sound! Better to be a dog in peace than a man in chaos!"

His words undoubtedly resonated with many people, and everyone started sighing.

After a while, someone was heard saying, "Peace is not easy to come by these days. I'm afraid there will be war soon."

"Why do you say that?" Everyone perked up their spirits and looked at the speaker.

That person said, "I came from the capital of Dongyue. Along the way, I passed many villages and saw the government conscripting soldiers, as if preparing for war."

Others were very surprised, "Conscripting what soldiers, are Dongyue's troops lacking? Not to mention the official troops of each prefecture and county, just the Hui family army, renowned throughout the land with 300,000 men, is invincible, right?"

That person smiled bitterly, "That I don't know. Some places are remote from the emperor's reach. Not only are they forcibly taking able-bodied men, but also extorting money and goods. Anyway, I saw several instances."

Hearing this, everyone started speculating.

"Don't know which country they're going to war with, could it be Canghe?"

"Unlikely. Who doesn't know Canghe is powerful, not inferior to Dongyue. If they really fight, they'll probably both lose!"

"That's not our concern. The most important thing is, if they fight Canghe, this official road can't be traveled. By then, we'll suffer losses!"

"Who says no, war is war, the common people suffer!"

"I think it might be against Beichang. Don't they say Beichang is a country founded by foreigners, unacceptable to the major Chinese countries?"

"Regardless of who they're fighting, earning more money is what matters. Otherwise, once the flames of war start, we'll be left in the cold!"

"Oh, Old Xu, I really envy you. You still have a nephew who entered an immortal sect to cultivate. At worst, you can still go to him for help..."

Everyone chattered on enthusiastically. Zhou Chen listened, blinking slightly, and leaned close to Zhou Yin, "Seems like it's going to be chaotic again."

Zhou Yin slowly tore the steamed bun in his hand, "If you want to find out, just take a look."

Zhou Chen didn't react for a moment, "How to look?"

Zhou Yin glanced at him, with a smile that wasn't quite a smile, "Look the same way you looked at me when I was taking a bath."

Zhou Chen hadn't yet recovered from the numbness of that phoenix gaze sweeping over him when he was immediately struck by his words as if hit by five thunderbolts.

How did he know?

How did he know!

How did he know?!

Zhou Chen stiffly turned his head, "Hehe, the weather is so nice today, hehe..."

Two hours later, in the room.

The disciplined and forcibly-transformed-into-a-furball Zhou Chen limply lay on the bed.

"How to use it?" Zhou Yin picked up the "loot" that was handed over.

"Whatever you think in your heart will appear. But you can only see what has truly happened, exists in your memory, or is currently happening in reality." Zhou Chen said listlessly.

Zhou Yin's heart stirred, and after a moment, the originally blurry mirror surface rippled and gradually revealed the scene inside.

The first thing that appeared was a beautiful face.

A pointed chin, fair skin, curved willow brows - yes, no one could deny that it was a beauty.

But Zhou Chen's face instantly darkened, because he immediately recognized that it was clearly Liu Xiaowan's face.

Could it be that Ah Yin's true love was actually her?!

The mirror zoomed out, revealing the full picture. Liu Xiaowan pushed open the door, her delighted expression instantly transforming into shock, anger, and finally distortion.

Then a scream rang out.

A room in disarray and a chicken covered in cosmetic powder appeared in the mirror.

Liu Xiaowan: "You damn chicken!"

Zhou Chen: "Chirp chirp chirp!"

Human and chicken cursed at each other.

Human and chicken chased and fought.

A scene that was once so familiar played out in the Heaven Opening Mirror.